Key stumbles and bumbles on Auckland

John Key was unimpressive in question time today. He seemed unable to defend his Government’s policy on Auckland. Jet lag after Gallipoli maybe? Missing his hoodie? Or just a hard policy to defend?

Following his major speech yesterday setting out our plan for Auckland, Phil Goff asked the Prime Minister some straightforward questions that Aucklanders are asking:

Hon Phil Goff: Why is he giving the Auckland Transport Agency, which is unelected, the right to pass by-laws, but is denying that power to the elected local boards?

Hon John Key: Because we think it makes sense for the agency to be able to set some initial parameters in relation to the local boards, and that is because, over time, they need to reflect those communities. As that system plays out, I am sure that the Auckland Council will set new policies there.

What?!  It didn’t get much better. Phil went on to ask:

Why is he imposing council-controlled organisations on Auckland City when every other city in this country is able to make that decision for itself?

Why is the Government repealing the requirement for Auckland City to get the consent of Aucklanders by referendum before any privatisation of the Ports of Auckland can take place?

Why is the Prime Minister ignoring the advice given to him by four Government departments, the Auckland mayors as a group, the Auckland chamber of commerce, and the vast majority of submissions to the select committee that the transport agency should be an in-house operation and not one that is passed across to a commercial council-controlled operation?

You can see Key’s answers here in text and in video. What do you think of them?