Page 3265 - Week 11 - Thursday, 13 September 1990
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workers and the general public is not put at risk by unsafe transportation and disposal practices. The cost of enforcing the clinical waste legislation this year is expected to be some $800,000.
Funds have also been provided in the budget for the introduction of a new computer system for motor vehicle registry operations. The new system will replace the ageing motor vehicle registration and drivers licensing system and will provide for the full integration of parking fine default processing. The budget provides considerable commitment by the ACT Government to the Prime Minister's road safety package, the 10-point road safety package. Funding has been provided to implement those various points which cover, of course, national .05 blood alcohol concentration limits for drivers through to daylight running lights for motor cycles.
The Government has decided that booth operated long-stay car parks will be converted to voucher operation in order to improve cost effectiveness and maximise parking revenue. As well as providing a better return for the Government, the new voucher machines will result in more flexible, long-stay parking arrangements being introduced. These will include half-day parking, afternoon fees and the flexibility of combining short-stay and long-stay provision in areas to maximise the use of car parks.
We expect that conversion to be introduced within six months. I guess this is a prime example of how we can easily refute the claim by the Opposition that we are doing jobs for our mates, et cetera, because, of course, these long-stay parking arrangements are currently quite lucrative arrangements for private operators.
Turning to the roads maintenance program, many major roads constructed in Canberra 20 to 30 years ago during periods of rapid growth are now, of course, reaching the end of their economic life. That, combined with the slow-down in growth in the outer areas, requires the redirection of roads expansion away from the creation of new capital assets towards increased expenditure on maintenance and the reconstruction of the existing road network. That trend commenced last year with work to reconstruct parts of Yamba Drive, Bowen Drive and Limestone Avenue. As I say, that level of - - -
Mr Wood: In mothballs at the moment.
MR DUBY: Well, it is not my fault; it is all the fault of your mates. Actually, it would be a lot better, of course, if we did not have TLC elections coming up; we would not have the silly posture of unionists strutting around and saying, "I can be tougher than you" just to see who can win more votes.
Anyway, as I said, there is going to be substantial expenditure on that area in this Budget and, of course, it
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