3. Hon PHIL GOFF (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does he stand by his statement on the reorganisation of local government in Auckland that “The Government wants Aucklanders to have the maximum impact into the proposals”?
Hon JOHN KEYWhy has he failed to honour that commitment to the extent that this morning the New Zealand Herald described the Government as having a “tin ear” on reorganisation and that two-thirds of Aucklanders polled believe that the Government has ignored their concerns about the reorganisation?
I would have thought that that member would be the last one wanting to talk about polls. I also note that the New Zealand Herald’s editorial said that the member’s proposal was light on detail. There has been extensive consultation with the public, and I am sure that when the third bill comes back from the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee it will reflect that.
Why is he giving the Auckland Transport Agency, which is unelected, the right to pass by-laws, but is denying that power to the elected local boards?
Because we think it makes sense for the agency to be able to set some initial parameters in relation to the local boards, and that is because, over time, they need to reflect those communities. As that system plays out, I am sure that the Auckland Council will set new policies there.
Why is he imposing on Auckland the requirement to have council-controlled organisations, when every other council in this country is able to make that decision for itself?
For a start, the Leader of the Opposition looks very confused when it comes to council-controlled organisations. Only last night—
Mr SPEAKERI did not intervene on an earlier occasion when the Prime Minister launched into something to do with the Opposition when he started answering a question, because the questioner had put a couple of statements into his question that gave the Prime Minister the liberty to do so. But that was a reasonably straightforward question. It was not about the Opposition; it was about the matter that the Leader of the Opposition asked about. I think the Prime Minister should first answer that question.
I note that just last night the Leader of the Opposition was saying that council-controlled organisations are all right. Council-controlled organisations have been in operation around the country—
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. You gave a very clear ruling about the way the Prime Minister should answer the question, yet he got up and restated a position about the Opposition. This is question time. It is for the Government to explain its record, not to comment on the Opposition’s.
I think that is a perfectly fair point. I invite the honourable Leader of the Opposition to re-ask his question so there can be no confusion as to what it was.
Why is he imposing council-controlled organisations on Auckland City when every other city in this country is able to make that decision for itself?
Because we believe that that is the right structure for Auckland. Council-controlled organisations have been in operation for quite come time and have widespread support, including from the Opposition.
Why is the Government repealing the requirement for Auckland City to get the consent of Aucklanders by referendum before any privatisation of the Ports of Auckland can take place?
Let me make it clear that there is no privatisation as part of the reform of Auckland. It is nothing to do with that. If there are asset sales, then that is a matter for the Auckland Council, just like it would be for any other council. I have no doubt that, when those elections take place, members, as they seek election, will make it clear what their plans and proposals are in that regard.
Why is the Prime Minister ignoring the advice given to him by four Government departments, the Auckland mayors as a group, the Auckland chamber of commerce, and the vast majority of submissions to the select committee that the transport agency should be an in-house operation and not one that is passed across to a commercial council-controlled operation?
Firstly, we reject that assertion. Secondly, I tell the member that I have seen that the most significant issue that Auckland faces is probably transport. There is a widespread willingness to see transport operating efficiently in Auckland, just as there is around the country. I might add that, when he was in Government, I did not see that member ripping up the equivalent of the transport agency, which is exactly what the council-controlled organisation is.
In overruling the objections of all of those bodies, is it still his intention to overrule the Auckland district plan that will prevent mining on Great Barrier Island, or will he listen to the overwhelming majority of people in the poll last night who said they did not want that?
As the Opposition knows, we are going through a consultation process when it comes to mining. In due course, we will be reflecting on that. All I can say is, whether mining on Great Barrier Island is a good idea is yet to be proven. I know that having the Mayor of Auckland sitting in Cabinet is not a good idea—unless we happened to be a Labour Government, in which case that person would be an addition in both IQ and quality compared with those members sitting over there.