Greens urge Labour to be bolder on transport

Jeanette Fitzsimons

The Green Party wants Labour to be bolder with its transport promises and increase planned levels of bio-fuels.

Prime Minister Helen Clark and Transport Minister Pete Hodgson released Labour's transport policy in Auckland yesterday.

Among measures was setting a mandatory target for bio-fuels and taking control of upgrading Auckland's rail network.

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said that while Labour was adopting the Greens' policy for a mandatory target for bio-fuels, 3 per cent was totally inadequate.

"Even the Government's own documents released today show that 5 per cent bio-diesel and at least 5 per cent bio-ethanol are achievable right now," Ms Fitzsimons said.

Bio-diesel was economic at today's prices -- it was exempt from carbon tax and under Green Party policy would be exempt from the excise on fuel.

"Labour is moving in the right direction on transport but we want them to move more quickly and with greater boldness," she said.

Helen Clark yesterday turned the first sod on a $169 million extension to State Highway 20 in Auckland -- the latest project in Auckland's western roading corridor project.

The four lane, 4km extension includes a busway, cycleways and enables rail works and is to be completed in 2009.

National Party transport spokesman Maurice Williamson said the project was meant to have begun four years ago.

"Make no mistake, any Greens/Labour coalition will further stall important roading projects in our largest city," Mr Williamson said.

Road transport under such a coalition would be an absolute disaster, he said.

"We'd go back to penny farthings and walking shoes, and the fact is the economy would grind to an absolute, jolting halt."

Ms Fitzsimons said the Greens had never said they would not spend money on roading but there had to be a balance.

For the past 15 years, more than 90 per cent of all transport funding had gone on roads, she said.

The Greens would ensure public transport upgrades were funded on the same basis as roads, she said.

- NZPA