KEY POINTS:
Talks between Government and the trucking industry on diesel road user charges are unlikely to result in a backdown on this week's price increase, Prime Minister Helen Clark says.
Transport Minister Annette King last night announced a working party would examine the way charges are set for heavy vehicles.
Ms King said she wanted to be sure the formula was delivering fair charges, and acknowledged there were two sides to the argument.
The trucking industry welcomed the move, but went ahead with its nationwide protest today aimed at clogging streets in the main centres with trucks.
Miss Clark today said if the industry had "fair points" to put on the table the Government would listen.
However, asked if a backdown was possible, she indicated it was unlikely.
"That's certainly not my understanding. The money we collect from all the petrol and other levies and road user charges is totally committed to that very big land transport, road building and public transport programme, so that work has to go on."
Miss Clark said it was important truckies paid their fair share.
"It seems to me other road users have been picking up the bulk of the cost of funding our transport system and there's got to be an element of fairness here.
"We think what is happening is fair. They don't. There can be a working party to talk about how we move ahead from here."
Road Transport Forum chief executive Tony Friedlander last night said the talks were "a positive first step".
The industry has two complaints - the charges have been raised just as they are grappling with rocketing fuel prices, and the fact that Ms King did not give them notice of the increase which was announced on Monday night and was effective from Tuesday morning.
Ms King said the last time she gave notice of an increase, companies spent more than $17 million on licence pre-purchases in two days to beat the deadline.
- NZPA
