Road Legislation Fails to Clear the Green Hurdle

Road Legislation Fails to Clear the Green Hurdle

The last-minute tweaking of the Land Transport Management Bill will not be enough to ensure that vital roading infrastructure gets the investment it needs, New Zealand Business Roundtable executive director Roger Kerr said today.

"This legislation opens the way for political interference, allowing green ideology to win over common sense.

"The statutory independence of Transit and Transfund needs to be strengthened.

"The provision for public-private partnerships is inflexible. The harsh conditions for private-sector participation reflect a lack of willingness to embrace PPPs and toll roads as a way ahead.

"First world infrastructure is crucial to the government's goal to lift New Zealand 's prosperity. What was needed in this legislation was a firm reference to clear economic objectives.

"The Business Roundtable is very disappointed in this legislation, which will make no real change for motorists or the economy," Mr Kerr concluded.

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