Government must explain role in ticketing fiasco

The Government has a number of questions to answer over its involvement in Auckland’s integrated ticketing fiasco, says Labour’s Transport spokesperson Phil Twyford.

Labour has requested information from the Government about what involvement Ministers had in the decision to include Snapper in the integrated ticketing scheme, Phil Twyford said.

“The National Government was up to its armpits in the decision to include Snapper in this deal. That’s why they cannot wash their hands of the current problems.

“This is yet another Government portfolio in crisis,” Phil Twyford said.

“Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee promised Aucklanders they wouldn’t be held hostage by a bus company over this shambles. Well, Aucklanders deserve to know exactly what role his Government had in what was clearly an unwise decision to allow Snapper to roll out their card in advance of the integrated ticketing system being set up.

“Taxpayers and ratepayers are up for millions of dollars. Auckland public transport users could end up with more delays to the integrated ticketing project. The Government needs to put all the facts on the table so people can judge for themselves what has gone on.”

Official Information Act requests have been lodged with Gerry Brownlee, Finance Minister Bill English, the Ministry of Transport and the New Zealand Transport Agency requesting all information on the decision to include Snapper in the integrated ticketing project, Phil Twyford said.

“Gerry Brownlee has said Infratil and NZ Bus will be ‘off the run’ if Snapper doesn’t deliver an integrated ticket. That will mean transport chaos in our biggest city.

“Aucklanders don’t need this minister trying to grandstand. They need a solution,” Phil Twyford said.