Documents released under the Official Information Act reveal Steven Joyce wanted to dump the Auckland integrated ticketing project soon after he was elected because he thought Snapper could do it instead, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Phil Twyford says.
Communications between the Minister's office and transport officials in the December 2008 to March 2009 period show Mr Joyce asking officials whether there was an out clause in the tender process, whether the project could be stopped, and why $100 million was being spent when Snapper could do it privately.
"From the moment he was elected Mr Joyce was itching to halt the integrated ticketing scheme, and allow Snapper to do it. Correspondence from Snapper two years later indicates he instructed officials to allow Snapper back into the project, after they had lost the competitive tender and against advice from officials.
Given the lobbying which occured, this is getting very stinky indeed, and the Auditor-General has been asked to investigate. Good. There should be no place in our democracy for this sort of backroom deal.