6 September 2005

Brash in motorway smash with Williamson

National's latest attempt to announce its transport policy has degenerated into a public scrap between Don Brash and the party's transport spokesman Maurice Williamson says Minister of Transport Pete Hodgson.

National is having an unbecoming scrap as to whether there should be still more motorways in the form of the eastern highway. There is no doubt that National would resurrect that idea, despite Dr Brash’s tetchy denial. The reason is that Transport spokesperson Maurice Williamson is personally set on it, and reconfirmed that it was on National’s list of projects only last month.

“However Brash is unwilling to upset the good people of Epsom before polling day because of that seat’s tactical importance. National’s supporters in Epsom would not wish to learn that countless backyards would be evaporated to make way for Motorway Maurice," said Pete Hodgson.

“By contrast the incremental improvements to local roads, already under consideration by the Auckland and Manukau City Councils, make sense. Mr Williamson remains seriously out of touch with such thinking, preferring a $4 billion monster running through suburban east Auckland.”

ENDS

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