Dunne Leads Voters Up the Garden Path

Just how long can Peter Dunne keep promising his supporters that Transmission Gully's completion is just around the corner so long as they vote for him, ACT New Zealand Transport Spokesman Deborah Coddington asked today.

"A letter released under the Official Information Act from Transit New Zealand's chief executive Robyn Dunlop to Paul Swain clearly states `The project is not fundable within the next 10 years under current arrangements'.

"Peter Dunne agreed to support Labour on confidence and supply because he had been promised some goodies in return, including legislation allowing a toll road to be built through Transmission Gully - a proposed new road for commuter traffic north of Wellington.

"This letter- which was written on 21 August, after Dunne agreed to support Clark on anti-business and anti-family legislation - shows that even a toll road is marginal.

"Under the heading of `Alternative Funding', Dunlop points out to the Minister of Transport that willingness-to-pay surveys have shown that toll revenue is `unlikely to cover more than about one third of the project cost. Additional funds from local, regional or national sources will be required'.

"No wonder Dunne's been quiet on the Private-Public Partnership scandals. This road will be a prime example of private partners scooping the benefits and the taxpayers bearing the risk. Just like the old energy `Think Big' projects that Birch and Muldoon created.

"Meanwhile United Future are continuing to dupe the public by pretending to support small businesses. They say they oppose the OSH Amendment Bill, but by supporting this Labour Government they're allowing wacky legislation to come before the House.

"If United Future really cared about the family they would have voted against the Social Welfare Amendment Bill. If they really cared about economic growth and small businesses they would stop supporting the Government which is determined to send New Zealand to hell in a handcart," Miss Coddington said.

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