Adams: Govt must help Akld ratepayers

North Shore-based United Future MP, Paul Adams, is calling on the Government to intervene in the Auckland rates revolt, to ease the strain on elderly people and others on fixed incomes.

"When we had the crisis with the air ambulance, the Government stepped in quickly and sorted it out because lives were at stake. This rating crisis could be the death of many of our elderly with the strain it puts on them," he said.

"A large percentage of Auckland Regional Council rates is to pay for transport infrastructure. Aucklanders, via the tax on fuel, have been paying for their transport system for years and have been seriously short-changed by the Governments of the day.

"Rating is not the fair way to pay for transport. A fuel tax is fairer and possibly the best option at present, especially if the Government heeds United Future's consistent call to stop taking so much fuel tax away for the Consolidated Fund."

Mr Adams said, "The Government should immediately instruct the ARC to remove the transport levy from the rates that have just been set, and acknowledge that they will pick up responsibility for this. This would give immediate relief.

"Longer term, a structure should then be set up to solve the Auckland transport problems independently of the councils and ARC. Most of the ground work is complete; all we need now is a small group to get the job done!

"As United Future has been pointing out, the Government is best placed to borrow at very favourable rates to fund all national roading infrastructure. That puts the burden where it belongs, with all New Zealanders, not just the ratepayers of Auckland," said Mr Adams.

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