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Regional Fuel Tax "off the table"
17 February 2017
Media release
Regional Fuel Tax
"off the table" clears way for new financing options
and
faster pace of action
Finance and Infrastructure
Minister, Steven Joyce's, first major
announcement since
taking up the portfolio was exactly the tonic
Auckland
business needed to hear.
Noting the Government
announcement saying "no" to a regional fuel tax,
Chairman
of the Auckland Business Forum, Michael Barnett, agreed the
tax had
potential to distort the market, administratively
difficult, and badly
targeted and unfair.
"We are
delighted Government has rejected it, as it takes the
uncertainty
around the proposal 'off the table'.
Noting
also that Mr Joyce supported Auckland Council and
Government
continuing to work together to maintain the
momentum to address Auckland's
transport issues, Mr
Barnett encouraged a lifting in the pace to identify
and
agree on a suite of alternative-innovative financing options
for
delivering Auckland's major transport projects.
The
Auckland Business Forum also supported the Minister's signal
that it is
now open to the introduction of electronic
road tolling in Auckland.
It gives Auckland a clear agenda
and incentive to adopt a new mind-set
focused on
increasing the pace of
action.
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