Media statement Friday, April 1st, 2005

Orewa speech No. 3: Auckland will vote for building more roads faster

National leader Don Brash’s message today will strike an immediate chord with Auckland’s overtaxed and frustrated road users, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

Business welcomes Dr Brash’s acknowledgement of the bad state of our roads and his party’s commitment to fix them, said Alasdair Thompson, EMA’s chief executive.

“We’re delighted hear Dr Brash is stating what the problem is, and hear his determination to do something about it,”said Alasdair Thompson, EMA’s chief executive.

“Business and many other road users have been working away at these issues for years because we’re convinced our poor roads are a major block on achieving better economic growth and quality of life.

“We’re delighted National would progressively invest all of the current $600 million petrol excise tax back on roads.

“We applaud the recognition that the Auckland Regional Land Transport Committee’s plan to divert the extra 5 cents litre tax from today into public transport projects is wrong.

“We agree wholeheartedly the RMA still needs fixing, and the original intent of the Land Transport Management Act, to allow BOOT roading projects to proceed with urgency, must be re-instated.

“For the sake of New Zealand’s future, business strongly backs this policy direction.”

ENDS

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