Whom to believe?
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1:20 pm, August 25th, 2008 - 17 comments
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On Agenda on Sunday, National’s Transport spokesperson, Maurice Williamson, said National would impose tolls on major new road projects – Transmission Gully, Waterview etc – and on the Harbour Bridge if a tolled second crossing of the harbour is built. Williamson said a typical person using those toll roads for commuting would spend about $50 a week but he thinks people would be happy to pay it. He also said these toll roads and other projects (including schools, hospitals, and prisons) could be built as Public-Private Partnerships, effectively a form of borrowing where the private company puts the money up front and gets profit for decades. Williamson wants the legislation changed so private investors can make profit off these public assets for ’50-60′ years, rather than the legislated limit of 35 years.
Today on Nine to Noon , Bill English called his wannabe infrastructure minister ‘exurberant’. Refusing to give any details, English says the cost will not be $50 a week, more like $20. Where the extra money would come from the pay for these PPPs, English can’t say.
Is it an acceptable situation when we can’t take the words of a National spokesperson as correct statements of National policy? Should we have to go and check with English and Key each time, except when they get it wrong?
And which Nat do you believe? The one speaking frankly and offering detail, even if it is politically unpalpable, or the one trying to minimise political damage and offering vague promises?
17 comments on “Whom to believe? ”
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The real problem in the public sector is ongoing job losses and cuts to the front line. ...2 weeks ago
- Government undermines public service with WFH crackdown
The Green Party says the Government’s retrograde move to tighten up on Work from Home arrangements is the latest in a series of blows to the Public Service. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Ministers oblivious to cuts’ effect on families
The National Government is oblivious to the impact cuts to services will have on New Zealanders who are doing the hard yards caring for mentally ill family members. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Public service set up to fail under National
Nicola Willis has set up the public service to fail to pay for reckless tax cuts for landlords and the tobacco industry. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Coalition cooking up costly RMA replacement
National continues to dismantle environmental protections in the interests of rushing through unsustainable development that will ultimately cost communities. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National red-faced as benefit numbers skyrocket
The economy has stagnated and the National Government is having to face the consequences of its atrocious lawmaking, as beneficiary numbers skyrocket past even Treasury’s predictions. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National allocating police officers not hired yet
There are 104 fewer police officers now than there were when National came into Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Economic decline further cause for tax transformation
Today’s GDP figures combined with the injustice of our tax system will mean more pain for our lowest-income households while those at the top remain relatively unscathed. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: No growth under National, just cuts
The National Government’s decisions have hindered, not helped the economy. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt must act to avoid the worst of NIWA’s climate projections
New climate projections from NIWA underscore how urgently climate action is needed. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: More job losses as Government fails on manufacturing
The Government is failing the manufacturing sector with no plan for its future. ...3 weeks ago
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Kia uru kahikatea te tū. Projects referred for Fast-Track approval will help supercharge the Māori economy and realise the huge potential of Iwi and Māori assets, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says. Following robust and independent review, the Government has today announced 149 projects that have significant regional or national ...6 hours ago - Fast-track to boost renewable electricity
The Fast-track Approvals Bill will list 22 renewable electricity projects with a combined capacity of 3 Gigawatts, which will help secure a clean, reliable and affordable supply of electricity across New Zealand, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Government has a goal of doubling New Zealand’s renewable electricity generation. The 22 ...6 hours ago
- Fast-track to drive transport projects forward
The Government has enabled fast-track consenting for 29 critical road, rail, and port projects across New Zealand to deliver these priority projects faster and boost economic growth, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand has an infrastructure deficit, and our Government is working to fix it. Delivering the transport infrastructure Kiwis ...6 hours ago
- Fast-track projects released
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- Extra Government support for farmers and growers in Southland and parts of Otago
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson announced up to $50,000 in additional Government support for farmers and growers across Southland and parts of Otago as challenging spring weather conditions have been classified a medium-scale adverse event. “The relentless wet weather has been tough on farmers and ...2 days ago
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Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay today welcomed a move by the European Commission to delay the implementation of the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by 12 months, describing the proposal as a pragmatic step that will provide much-needed certainty for New Zealand exporters and ensure over $200 million in ...2 days ago
- Response to Ministerial Inquiry into School Property
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Parents and caregivers are now able to claim for FamilyBoost, which provides low-to-middle-income families with young children payments to help them meet early childhood education (ECE) costs. “FamilyBoost is one of the ways we are supporting families with young children who are struggling with the cost of living, by helping ...3 days ago
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Health Minister Dr Shane Reti today opened the refurbished Children’s Unit at Rotorua Hospital, which will provide young patients and their families in the Lakes District with a safe, comfortable and private space to receive care. “The opening of this unit is a significant milestone in our commitment to improving ...5 days ago
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- New diplomatic appointments
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- Increased medicines access welcomed following budget boost
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...6 days ago
- Foreign Minister completes successful week of international engagements
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today wrapped up a week of high-level engagements at the United Nations in New York and in Papeete, French Polynesia. “Our visit to New York was about demonstrating New Zealand’s unwavering support for an international system based on rules and respect for the UN Charter, as ...6 days ago
- Final 2024 Action Plan focused on infrastructure
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- Four new laws to tackle crime passed in Q3
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- Government partnership boosting vineyard productivity
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- Reforming the building consent system
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- Cost-benefit analysis for potential third medical school completed
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and this morning bill english said national will spend $50-$60 BILLION on infraSTRUCTURE OVER THE NEXT TWENTY YEARS. well thats a lot of money in my book so what are the plans or is that just another ball park figure like muldoons 410,000 jobs…hahahahaha. National are the least credible they have been since the 1950’s and they weren’t too hot then.
“And which Nat do you believe?”
The one that doesn’t know you’ve got a tape recorder.
ha ha SP – can’t argue with that one can I??
It’s shambolic and amateurish and something that shouldn’t be happening. It worries me that the Nats have had plenty of time to act like the govt in waiting but they are doing their best to implode.
You can see why HC is a control freak – the control is central to preventing these type of spin disasters.
Once may be an accident, but twice is just plain careless.
PB:
LOL
Well, that’s transport policy out. We have health policy with increase in fees, ACC policy with $200m going overseas, borrowing for tax cuts; prisons run for profit.
I look forward this week to defence expenditure with new jets and vouchers in education. Policy to deal with unions and beneficiaries is still to be taken care of.
I am ambitious for New Zealaand!
Explaining is loosing, Maurice.
…and he’s not ambitious, he’s passionate.
we should start a book on the shortest run for a Nat policy – how many hours did this one last?
They are taking the piss now
In light of National party spokespersons gaffs on the program “Agenda” it should be renamed Secret Agenda
“this morning bill english said national will spend $50-$60 BILLION”
lol – and National wailed and wailed about Labour spending 1% of that amount getting our rail system up to speed in preparation for peak oil. ffs how can you take the Tories seriously?
out of bed – lol 🙂
Steve – what I found funniest was Williamson’s argument that “if you don’t want to pay the toll, you can piss off and join the rest of the plebs on the traffic-jammed free road”! Typical classist, Tory arrogance.
Needless to say, National won’t be wanting to provide an attractive public-transport alternative in Auckland, so people can avoid both huge toll fees and traffic jams …
The Nat’s logic in holding back on releasing policy is that it denies their opponents the chance to counter it before the election. If all the examples so far are any indication, maybe they need to hide policies from others in the National Party.
It is a big ask for ambitious Nats to keep quiet on areas they have been given responsibility for. The problem is that dog whistler John boy, and farmer Bill have the final say.
And reflecting on the Hollow Men film, could someone please count the times that Brash was seen walking without his media minder. I guess media minders can’t be everywhere at once, and so Williamson put his foot in it by revealing the Nats true intentions.
roger nome, I have to agree with you 100%. When National stop the squandering of roading revenue on horrendously expensive public transport Transit will be able to afford to fix Auckland’s traffic jam withour resorting to tolls.
Alternatively Transit could use the money to fix the potholes on state highways in Christchurch and make Aucklander’s pay for their own motorways – with tolls.
On a serious note, tolling only the new motorways is stupid and shortsighted. What we need is to GPS toll all roads so that capacity is paid for only by those who travel at times when the capacity is needed. Otherwise the capacity is subsidised by all road users.
Whom to believe? Are you sure, Steve.