Belinda Vernon National Transport Spokesperson

14 October 2001

Banks won't want dithering over transport problems

The election of John Banks as Mayor of Auckland will put the heat on the Government to deal with Auckland's transport problems, National's Transport spokesperson, Belinda Vernon, said today.

"John Banks won't put up with Government dithering. The Government's made a lot of noise about solving Auckland's transport problems but has delivered nothing. Instead, it has become bogged down in rail track negotiations.

"The Government has to deal with the dollar and delay obstacles. It is unlikely Auckland's new Mayor will take no for an answer.

"John Banks needs to get Auckland City and Regional Council buy-in for his vision for Auckland. Then central government can't blame local government for a lack of action.

"The region has signed up to a strategy for Auckland's transport which includes roads and public transport. The plan is there - but the timeframe and emphasis is dodgy.

"John Banks was elected on a 'more roads' platform. He now has a strong mandate to deliver on these words.

"National is committed to removing central government barriers to solving Auckland's transport problems. Now let's see how committed the Labour /Alliance Government is," said Belinda Vernon.

Ends

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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>>