POLICY RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Libertarianz Transport Deregulation Spokesman Michael Murphy announced the party's Transport Policy today.

"It is time to get the country moving," he said

Driver licensing The current introduction of Government ID cards demonstrates that this should not be a function of government, and nor need it be. Existing life-time licences, are a contract between you and the government. As you have kept your side of the contract, it should stand until the expiry date.

To get government out of the ID process altogether, drivers could instead have a certificate of competency to operate a vehicle issued by any competent organisation recognised by road owners and insurers.

Petrol Tax It is party policy to abolish product specific taxes and get the government out of business. On each litre of petrol you buy, 32.3 cents(plus GST) goes to the government - 18.7 cents(plus GST) of which goes straight to government's consolidated fund. Libertarianz proposes that tax on petrol would be reduced immediately to the 13.6 cents spent on roads, with this being removed completely following the eventual privatisation of roads.

Licencing Fees Why do we have registration? To prove ownership and to identify the vehicle. Vehicle registration fees would continue, but be reduced to the cost of the data entry only, with such add-ons as ACC contributions abolished. Vehicle owners and operators could make their own insurance arrangements for insurance purposes,

Private Roads Eventually all petrol tax will be abolished, and roading contributions through rates removed. Private roads would be allowed and encouraged, allowing the repeal of the fascist Public Works Act. Common law and statutory rights of access will be protected. Methods and level of charging would be at the discretion of the operators. Toll roads and bridges will be encouraged. If some one wanted to build a second Auckland harbour crossing, or a second bridge at Kopu, they could do so and of course charge for the use of that road. Equally farmers and residents who wished to privatise their roads could do so, possibly forming a body corporate or similar organisation.

Maritime Transport Sea transport is the road that never wears out. As an island nation we should be utilising this road. It is currently over regulated and over unionised to the point of strangulation. Ship registration is a legitimate government function, but could be corporatised or semi-privatised. Section 3 of the Ship Registration Act would be amended to allow an open register - this move coupled with a massively deregulated economy of a Libertarianz government would cause a huge increase in the number of ships on the N.Z register, and a proportional massive increase in the business activity of this sector Peripheral government activity, such as the survey and classification of vessels as carried out by Marine &Industrial, would be privatised.

Air Transport Existing deregulation of air transport would continue.

Rail Transport The former privatised of rail saw the land the tracks on left in the hands of the state. This should be sold.

ENDS

For more information contact: Michael Murphy LIBERTARIANZ SPOKESMAN FOR TRANSPORT DEREGULATION Phone: (09) 486 4499, Fax: (09) 486 1899 Or Libertarianz Media Coordinator on (025) 861 927, e-mail: organon@ihug.co.nz

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