Page 4400 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 8 December 1993
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There would be no continuing cost. Perhaps some people might think that is a ridiculous situation, but it is not as ridiculous as a continuation of massive subsidies next year, as I said, to the tune of $63m.
Mr Lamont: So that is two-thirds of the one-sixth of the three-fifths of the five-eighths - - -
MR DE DOMENICO: The Liberal Party has said, and it will continue to say, notwithstanding the stupid interjections by Mr Lamont - - -
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: There will be one-eighth less in the chamber if the interjections continue.
MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Lamont is responsible for implementing some of the most archaic work practices known to man and he comes into this debate late and pretends to know all about it. I look forward to his contribution after other people have spoken.
Mr Lamont: So you should. Squirm in your seat. I am sorry; you are standing.
MR DE DOMENICO: I can take the personal abuse as well, Mr Lamont; do not worry. The rates could be lowered next year because the huge, inefficient subsidy would not have to be funded from the ratepayers in Canberra. It is a ridiculous situation, to say the least. It is just about as ridiculous, Mr Deputy Speaker, as the Government's defence of the inefficiencies in ACTION; as ridiculous as the ACTION subsidy; as ridiculous as the tennis courts at Tuggeranong depot, or the union regulations which mean that drivers may drive for only 50 per cent or 60 per cent of their shift; as ridiculous, perhaps, as the cost recovery of ACTION, the lowest in Australia, or debt servicing fees ACTION incurs, which are 50 per cent of all capital funds; or as ridiculous as the cost of a bus-shelter, which is between $8,000 and $10,000.
It is interesting to note that a friend of mine told me that they recently bought a transportable home, including kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, toilet, shower, lounge room, hot-water service and heaters, for $2,000 less than it costs to build an ACTION bus-shelter. Some people might say that that is a ridiculous comparison, but it is true. Maybe ACTION bus-shelters could have running hot water, toilets and showers, and even the kitchen sink, for the same amount of money.
How ridiculous is the expenditure per employee, Mr Deputy Speaker, which is one of the highest in Australia. The Industry Commission has weighed into this debate with an independent report which recommends opening up the public transport service and infrastructure provision to new players.
Mr Lamont: Aha, aha!
MR DE DOMENICO: This is in the Industry Commission report, Mr Lamont, which was commissioned by a Federal Labor Government. This is in line with the new management philosophy being adopted around the world, Mr Deputy Speaker, which sees the role of government as steering and the role of private enterprise as rowing. For the Minister or the Government or anybody else to write off the Industry Commission report as more "corporatise and deregulate" is simplistic, to say the least. It demonstrates the Government's lack of understanding of the issues which challenge it. It clearly defines the
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