Fri, 27 Aug 2004

Stealing Less To Build the Eastern Highway

Libertarianz Auckland Mayoral candidate Stephen Berry is glad that less ratepayer money will be pumped into the Eastern Highway, but adds that nothing short of cancelling the project will be satisfactory. "The Eastern Highway, like other local government projects, is being funded from the proceeds of theft. Stealing less is far from impressive."

Berry is known as a strong advocate for the privatisation of roads, advocating the division of the network into Bodies Corporate owned by property-owners in the roading area. "Unfortunately, at a local government level, it is impossible to realise my dream of giving the roads back to the public. Central government laws only provide for a public/private partnership in the building of new roads, which is far from satisfactory."

In the absence of the ability to allow private roading projects, Berry is firmly opposed to sinking one cent of ratepayer money into the Eastern Highway. Berry says, "As long as central government requires local government to spend ratepayer money to build new highways, I will not be building any new highways. Every dollar the council spends has been forcibly taken from a property owner. The very person who has sole legitimate claim to the money even faces being forcibly removed from their property to make way for projects funded through their stolen money! This is completely immoral and will not be allowed if I am elected Mayor of Auckland."

"I will only be completely satisfied when roads can be built by private companies without ratepayer funding. I will not tolerate the blatant violation of property rights to build those roads. Until these conditions can be met, any plans for any highway will not go ahead."

ENDS

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