Letter to the Editor Tuesday November 11, 2014

Stuff of politicians

As a member of the National Party I am so appalled by the behaviour of our National government's back-tracking on Gerry Brownlee's promise to fund the bulk of repair costs of damage to the Far North's roads caused by the winter storms, that I feel I should resign from the National Party.

Maybe other National Party members in the Far North might consider doing the same, unless Prime Minister the Right Honourable John Key takes ownership of this issue and sorts it out.

'Minister's promise now in doubt,' and the excellent editorial 'Read the fine print,' Northland Age November 4).

How right is Peter Jackson when he says in his editorial, "The bottom line is that the Cabinet Minister responsible for transport made a promise to the Far North, and to resile from that undertaking now that the immediate crisis is over represents the sort of behaviour that gives politicians a bad name."

Peter Jackson is gentle in suggesting that perhaps Gerry Brownlee's rush of generosity might have had anything to do with a looming general election. In my view Brownlee's promise had everything to do with a looming general election. Brownlee would have known that after the election there would be a new Cabinet that there would be another Cabinet Minister responsible for transport. Brownlee would be a Minister of something else, with no responsibility whatsoever to keep his promise to pay for the Far North's road damage.

And that's exactly the way it's worked out. Brownlee has another portfolio; his office says he would not comment because he is no longer Minister of Transport. Neat! Simon Bridges is now Minister of Transport, but Simon Bridges did not make a promise to the Far North. What responsibility does he have to now support the promise of his predecessor?

Well in my view he has every responsibility to do so. Brownlee committed his department, and that is now Simon Bridges' department. But Bridges seems to be as untrustworthy as Brownlee. Enquiries to his office reveal that they do not recognise Brownlee's commitment to the repair of the storm damage to Far North roads, saying that is a matter for the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA). NZTA's idea of contributing to the repair costs of our damaged roads is vastly different to that promised by Gerry Brownlee.

Meanwhile, Brownlee's promise has been removed from the National Party website because nobody in the National government now owns it!

So who do these politicians think is going to pay the millions involved in repairing our storm-damaged roads? Well, besides paying your taxes and your road fund vehicle tax, and diesel mileage tax, Brownlee, Bridges and co, blithely consider you can pay. They are free to resile from any promises made, now they've been returned at the election.

I have been invited to a meeting with John Key when he visits the Far North on the November 18. I hope he turns up with news that his government stands by the Brownlee promises, but I'm not holding my breath, because what has happened here is the stuff of politicians.

It certainly is the sort of behaviour that gives politicians the bad name they undoubtedly deserve.

DEREK ELLIS

Kerikeri