Belinda Vernon National Transport Spokesperson

31 August 2001

Auckland rail deadline de-railed again

The Government has let Aucklanders down once again by failing to deliver on the Auckland rail deal, National's Transport spokesperson and Auckland MP Belinda Vernon said today.

"This is the second deadline the Government has missed since it elbowed its way into the negotiations in March.

"If the Government hadn't been so arrogant when it muscled in, progress might have been more rapid. But it didn't do its homework and promised more than it could deliver.

"The Government's line that 'it's more important to get the deal right than to make the deadline' is a pathetic attempt to explain away its failure. Aucklanders are too smart to fall for it again. This deal is too important for the Government to go slow on. It must be made a priority. Do it right and do it now.

"The Government's failure to meet deadlines cannot continue. The Britomart project hinges on the conclusion of the rail deal. Aucklanders need movement on the deal, unfortunately the Labour Government has lost sight of the tracks," Belinda Vernon said.

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