KEY POINTS:
National leader John Key says comments by his transport spokesman that motorists could face tolls of $3 a trip on roads built under a National Government are "premature".
In August National's transport spokesman Maurice Williamson got into trouble for saying people would be happy to pay $5 each way on a toll road - which equated to $50 a working week.
At the time Mr Key described the MP as "excitable" and said tolls were more likely to be around $2.
On Radio Live yesterday, Mr Williamson added a dollar.
"Of course the answer to that is it depends on which road," he said. "If it is quite a short-distance road of a few kilometres, somewhere in the city-type link, you'd only be talking of $1 or $2. If it's a very long-haul road you may be talking of $3."
But Mr Key again shot down Mr Williamson's figures.
"I haven't really seen the context of his comments, but there is no point in us making comment about what price a toll road will be because we haven't even identified what road would be tolled so it is far too premature to be talking about numbers."
Prime Minister Helen Clark said the $30 a week cost to a daily commuter of $3 a trip was high.
"I guess $30 a week in tolls is twice what they promised the worker on the average wage without children by way of a tax cut and five times what they promised the worker on the average wage with children by way of a tax cut, so it very much looks like a case of giveth with one hand and take away with the other."
Helen Clark has previously talked about a $2 level being acceptable on some new roads, but yesterday said Labour was yet to decide exactly what level was tolerable.
Auckland's new Northern Gateway toll road between Orewa and Puhoi is expected to charge motorists about $2 for cars and $4 for trucks and buses.
The Ministry of Transport said last week it had not yet decided on exact charges, which would depend on the latest inflation movements.
Transport Agency national toll project chief Brent Maguire said his organisation was seeking approval for fines between $40 and $60 for those who fail to pay the toll within 28 days.
- NZPA
