Think about Labour policy announcements this year and what comes to mind?
Debacles.
Wrong figures, wrong impressions, wrong strategy.
The latest is what has been dubbed a clustertruck – the proposal to restrict trucks to the slow lanes of three and four-lane highways.
Truck drivers said preventing them from using the outside lane on three- and four-lane highways would be unworkable and unlikely to reduce congestion.
The Automobile Association (AA) also questioned the policy, saying its members had never cited trucks as a cause of congestion. . .
Then there’s another problem with the transport policy:
Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says Labour leader David Cunliffe has got himself in the most astonishing predicament on TV3’s Firstline this morning, by claiming the National Land Transport Fund is “going to be in surplus very soon,” so it’s time to give some of it back to taxpayers.
“We know Mr Cunliffe is under significant pressure from his own caucus, having announced policy on the hoof yesterday without telling the team back at Labour’s war room,” Mr Brownlee says.
“Now, when asked by the media this morning to explain where the forgone revenue from this policy would come from, Mr Cunliffe has resorted to making things up, presumably thinking no one would call him on it.
“The fact of the matter is the National Land Transport Fund is by its very nature incapable of achieving a surplus, or a deficit – it is what it is.
“This is an ongoing fund which is used to fund the National Land Transport Programme, which for the years 2012-2015 will see $12.3 billion invested in road building, road maintenance, public transport, and which includes $300 million a year for targeted on-road Police enforcement.
“The fund might be above or below forecast at any point in time due to factors like the performance of the domestic economy, or fuel prices, but this is a dedicated fund, with all its money coming from Road User Charges and Fuel Excise Duty on an annual basis.
“All of that money is spent on New Zealand’s roads and public transport through the National Land Transport Programme; the question of surplus or deficit simply never arises.
“What’s more, thanks to changes in driver behaviour – in particular more efficient use of vehicles by large transport fleets using GPS technology – and increasingly fuel efficient vehicles, there has been greater financial pressure on the National Land Transport Fund in recent years, not less.
“Despite that, over the past six years this government has invested more in our land transport system, following a sustained period of under investment, and that’s just starting to pay off for all New Zealanders.
“We know this is increasingly difficult territory for Labour. They don’t want to talk about building roads because they don’t want to offend their Green coalition partners.
“But if Mr Cunliffe believes there is a surplus to be had in the National Land Transport Fund, he needs to explain what bits of the fund’s programme he is going to cut.
“If there’s some mystical way of creating a surplus inside the National Land Transport Fund without cancelling planned investment, David Cunliffe needs to tell us.
“I’d love to know what document he has seen that suggests this fund has, or will soon have, more money than it needs.”
Paul Henry says it all:
Homepaddock 
You are quoting Paul Henry.
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Well why not quote Paul Henry, Robert Guyton?
Our election this year is just a farce, a three ring circus and no real options for the voter.
There is only one possible candidate for Prime Minister, there is no real policy discussion, we will get what we will get with the next Government without any real public debate
And this is because of the clowns who are supposedly National’s opposition.
Its not good for democracy to have such a dearth of political talent that people like David Cunliffe even get into parliament let alone become leader of the opposition
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Business as usual at the good ole labour party. Thick as two planks. The reality is that the labour party, & in particular its movers & shakers have always been considered assets of their political opposition. They never have been known for any deep thinking or common sense. I suppose its because they are so out of touch.
I set off to work with a spring in my step.
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You chide us for ignoring the coming World War and indulging in fripparies, then say ‘why not quote Paul Henry?’
There’s a disconnect here, Andrei.
Can’t quite put my finger on it but somehow your statements don’t align…
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You know Robert we are living at a seminal moment in human history, really big things are happening. It is a dangerous moment but God willing we will get through it without to many people being hurt, maimed and killed. It scares me a little…..
But this is “a fall of the Berlin Wall” type moment, a major geo political re-alignment is underway and how it ends is anybody’s guess
Anyway
I would like the 2014 Election campaigns of all the parties to be about them presenting a vision for the future of this Nation and how to realize that vision. And for us as a people to debate these visions and the approaches we take to achieving them. Because that is how we will end up with the best result for all
Instead we go round and round talking about crap eg Judith Collins being photographed in China drinking a glass of NEW ZEALAND milk – and that perhaps is one of the more intelligent items that has engaged pea brains of our political elites.
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Andrei – I share your concerns around a possible World War.
When the Judith Collins “Government MP assists her husband’s company in their dealings while on taxpayer-funded China trip” issue is resolved, as it must be rather than minimised (read “swept under the carpet”) then attention can be given to issues of greater importance. That said, such issues are being attended-to – for example, the IPCC report of the looming negative effects of climate change. You say ‘world war’, I say, ‘climate trauma’. We both have issues we regard as more important than whether trucks should be able to travel in the 100km lane (though they can only legally travel at 90km), haven’t we.
And please, Paul Henry‘s opinion on anything???
Yeah, nah!
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Paul Henry for Mayor .. will be a great improvement
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