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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 8 Hansard (27 June) . . Page.. 2299 ..

The Causeway - Services

MS FOLLETT: Mr Speaker, I direct a question to the Minister for Urban Services, Mr De Domenico. Mr De Domenico, I would refer you to correspondence, both from me and from residents of the Causeway, concerning the quite intolerable situation whereby those residents have no bus service whatsoever on weekends or public holidays. In a recent reply to the Causeway residents on this subject, the CEO of ACTION has said:

With regard to your comments concerning services to the Causeway area on Weekends, there are currently two services which are within the relevant Service Standards, Route 313 to City and Route 265 to City and Woden.

Minister, I ask you: What are the relevant service standards to which the CEO refers?

MR DE DOMENICO: I thank Ms Follett for her question. Ms Follett has spoken to me about the concerns of the people at the Causeway about things like bus services, lights and other matters. She asked me directly what the standard services refer to. Ms Follett would be aware that Network 96 and a new Bus Book have been introduced into the ACT two or three weeks ago. I am sure that the chief executive is referring to that. I will check with the chief executive and get back with a more comprehensive answer to Ms Follett later.

MS FOLLETT: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. I would ask: Is the Minister aware that neither of the quoted routes - 313 to City or 265 to City and Woden - goes to the Causeway. If he is so aware, would he inform his CEO? Does the Minister condone this kind of misleading, if not downright insulting, reply to a legitimate concern raised by a constituent?

MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Speaker, not having seen the reply from the chief executive to the people of the Causeway, I cannot comment directly on what has and what has not been said. I can inform Ms Follett, though, that they do have a service. Some people have to walk to Wentworth Avenue to pick up that service. There are some disabled people who happen to live in the Causeway, too. We will have a look at that. The standards are that buses travel within 500 metres of all homes in the ACT.

Children with Disabilities - School Holiday Programs

MS REILLY: My question is to Mr Stefaniak in his capacity as Minister for Children's and Youth Services and Minister for Education. As I am sure you are aware, next week the school holidays are to begin in the ACT. What arrangements have been made for children with disabilities to participate in school holiday programs? Will these programs be the equivalent of programs provided for other children in the ACT? How many children will be able to participate? What will be the cost to the parents for these programs?

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