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National's transport spokesman has been publicly told off by his
own bosses for suggesting motorists could pay $50 a week in road
tolls if his party is elected.
Maurice Williamson said drivers would be happy to cough up if it
meant less time stuck in traffic.
But his leaders disagree.
Williamson has never been afraid to express a different view to his bosses, this time talking about toll roads on TV ONE's agenda programme.
"I don't know anyone that wouldn't pay three to five dollars because they'd be paying it in their 40 minutes of the car running," he said.
It was put to Williamson that that means $5 a day or $50 a week.
"Yes. Think of what 40 minutes sitting congested lock, stock and block stopped with your vehicle running. It actually costs you more than that," Williamson said.
But his bosses are annoyed and overruling him.
"I have confidence in him but he'd be best advised to be less excited in future," says John Key, National leader.
Williamson isn't the first National MP to get in strife for talking about policy, others told off for talking up changes to Kiwisaver. This is different though. Williamson is a front bencher and could be the next minister of infrastructure or transport.
So how could he get it so wrong? Or was he simply telling the truth about his view on tolls, a view his more pragmatic leaders worry will scare voters away.
"Mr Williamson got a bit excited and he's quite wrong to suggest that anyone would be paying $50 a week. That figure is simply unacceptable and it won't be happening," says Key.
"I think that is a sad attempt to take the gloss off a disaster. The agenda was secret until Maurice blurted," says Prime Minister Helen Clark.
National Deputy leader Bill English is also moving to shut the
issue down, saying Williamson "got a bit exuberant about the
numbers".
But just a couple of weeks ago, English had to apologise for
suggesting National would sell Kiwibank in secretly recorded
comments.
"I shouldn't have made the comments I made," he said.
Williamson also now says he was over-enthusiastic. But the incident has just given opponents another chance to exploit concerns about National's so-called secret agenda.
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