Infrastructure Auckland Defeat for Tizard and Lee
Today's admission that the promised review of
Infrastructure Auckland has been placed on the backburner is
a major victory for Auckland and a major defeat for Judith
Tizard and Sandra Lee, according to National's spokesman on
Auckland Issues Murray McCully.
He was referring to answers to Parliamentary questions by Hon Judith Tizard today (see attached).
"For months senior Auckland region leaders as well as myself as National's spokesman, have been telling the Government that a review of Infrastructure Auckland would simply delay that organisation committing funds to key Regional Growth Strategy projects. To date Judith Tizard, Minister assisting the Prime Minister on Auckland Issues and Sandra Lee, Minister of Local Government have doggedly clung to their fantasy of abolishing Infrastructure Auckland (See attached).
"Over recent weeks there have been growing signs that the Prime Minister, and other Ministers have accepted the message from the region and understood the foolishness of the position adopted by Ministers Tizard and Lee.
"Todays admission that no review is imminent, and that the Government will be pragmatic in allowing the existing bodies to advance the strategy, is a huge defeat for Ministers Tizard and Lee.
"With the immediate threat of the guillotine removed, the way appears clear for Infrastructure Auckland to make some commitments to key Auckland projects.
"It is nearly six months since the election. All the Government has delivered for Auckland so far is words. With nearly one sixth of their term gone, it's about time we saw some action," Mr McCully said.
Ends