Page 3030 - Week 09 - Thursday, 13 October 2022
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
The task before us now is to rebuild our international aviation network. We are working in Asia, the Middle East, New Zealand and the Pacific towards improving that connectivity—east, through the Pacific and New Zealand to North America; to the north and the north-west through Singapore, to Europe and to the subcontinent; and west, through the Middle East, on to Europe in particular. They are our priorities. We can do this in a sustainable way.
On that note, I think I have covered everything that was raised by colleagues in this portfolio area and given a comprehensive outline of what this appropriation will deliver for Canberra’s economic development, for our fiscal policy, and indeed the management of our response to climate change.
I commend this part of the budget to the Assembly.
Proposed expenditure agreed to.
Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate—Part 1.6
MR PARTON (Brindabella) (11.17): On the occasion of looking at the next 12 months of funding for Transport Canberra, I would like to start by thanking all the bus drivers and all those who keep our bus service running. They are essential workers. They certainly have managed to keep this town moving, and they have done so in a pretty tough period. So, on behalf of the Canberra Liberals, thanks to all of the staff, who have done a great job.
The drivers and the other staff have delivered a great service for Canberra, but it is embarrassing that on many levels the government have not. The government have failed to deliver what they said they would for the bus service in their last budget, and they have failed to deliver any inspiration to improve that service in this budget.
The government said they would bring in a new ticketing system this year. They have not. We do not have enormous amounts of detail on when it is going to be delivered. The government said they would move away from the interim timetable, and they still have not. They have signalled that they sort of will, but it is not really going to be a full timetable. The government said they would listen to Canberrans to improve the bus service and, by their own admission, they have not.
This is a common theme with this government: failure after failure; failure to deliver with no end in sight. This government said they would bring in a new ticketing system by 30 June this year, and it is now October. The government spruik that they want to increase patronage and that a new ticketing system would increase patronage. Yet, after years and years of talking about it, there is no detail on when it is coming.
When I asked about all this, they gave us lacklustre excuses about why it has not been done. The government are not really serious about delivering this for Canberrans. It is hard to find a store that sells a MyWay card. It is questionable if they have any stock. The government have taken away car parks in Civic. The minister is quoted in the newspaper as saying he wants to force people to change their habits, assumingly to use public transport. It is a pity that the government cannot be forced to change their
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video