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Joyce: Public transport initiatives must make economic sense
"8. Hon DARREN HUGHES (Labour) to the Minister of Transport: Does he support measures that are alternatives to roading? Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) : Yes, I support transport infrastructure investments that make at least some sort of economic sense"”which I appreciate might be too narrow a range of possibilities for the member opposite.
Hon Dr Michael Cullen: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I saw you thinking slightly there, and I think I know what you were thinking. The question was actually very simple and straightforward, and we got a slightly spinnyanswer back. It was a political whack, and you are taking rather a hard line on political whacks where there is not an invitation for one in the first place. I totally agree that when a member leads with a political nose, he or she can expect one to come straight back. In this case, the question did not seek that kind of response. Mr SPEAKER: I invite the Minister to offer the House an answer to the question that the member asked. Hon STEVEN JOYCE: As I said, I support transport infrastructure investments that make at least some sort of economic sense." - Parliament TV
Stick to your guns, Steven
Stick to your guns, Steven Joyce.
Public Transport is a political fraud. It does not achieve the objectives that are advanced as the reasons for subsidies of it, and it is a severe burden on the economy in the process. We would actually meet every objective better by not having subsidies or government involvement at all, and using cost-benefit analysis to build adequate, congestion-eliminating roads.
80% plus people use cars already. Building roads to eliminate congestion would cost only a fraction of the cost of doubling public transport infrastructure, which would probably break the public budget and reduce car use by only a small percentage.
I have posted a much lengthier discussion on this subject before, and will do so again in the event that someone starts trotting out all the myths and lies that are used to justify the heinous wastage of public money that is public transport subsidies.
http://www.interest.co.nz/ratesblog/index.php/2009/03/17/opinion-this-au...