Media Release
1 April 2004

Under-Expenditure Is Compromising Road Safety

“The announcement that Transfund is expected to carry forward a surplus of $250 million will result in less safe roads and possibly increased crashes, fatalities and injuries to road users as a result”, said George Fairbairn, Director – Public Affairs, New Zealand Automobile Association.

At a time when every emphasis should be on achieving a safer environment and encouraging economic development throughout the country, a safe and efficient roading network is essential.

The changes made with the passing of the Land Transport Management Act requiring even further reviews and planning procedures, and the continuing interference by minority influences is a retrograde step.

“Safety must not be compromised when there is funding available that can be spent now”, said George Fairbairn. These funds must not be left sitting in a balance sheet to be carried forward for possibly another year before there is any progress.

ENDS

The New Zealand Automobile Association is an incorporated society with over one million members. It represents the interests of road users who collectively pay almost $2 billion in taxes each year through fuels excise, road user charges and GST.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>