Thursday 4 Jul 2002

The Government's draft Transport Strategy is an attempt at dangerous social engineering, ACT Transport Spokesman MP Penny Webster said today.

"The aim of the strategy is to replace car use with walking, cycling and public transport. In New Zealand, with our terrain and our lifestyle, this is ridiculous.

"The price of owning and running a car will continue to rise - it will be outside the reach of average working New Zealanders. We've already experienced a levy of four cents a litre for Auckland transport. This strategy would push petrol tax up by another dollar for every litre.

"People outside metropolitan areas will be hardest hit, as they'll have to pay every extra cost the Government's going to dump on them, without the option of public transport or walking.

"Our New Zealand lifestyle - including our children moving to cities, sport at the weekends, visiting parks and staying with relatives - does not accommodate this sort of social engineering nonsense. This document has been created by ideological, Wellington-based bureaucrats. ACT calls on the Government to release the document for public submission," Mrs Webster said.

ENDS

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