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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 9 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 2815 ..

MR DE (continuing):

February 1996. It was considered that a field trial in the ACT would enable comparisons of the feasibility of PPT in different operating conditions involving a spectrum of private, government and community beneficiaries within the same compact area. The selection of the ACT as a field trial site would also act as a catalyst to bring together transport and telecommunications providers in the Territory in a coordinated project.

However, recent administrative changes in the Federal Government saw the program move to the Department of Transport and Regional Development. The ACT Government is currently awaiting advice as to whether the Federal Government intends to continue the national PPT project. Whilst there has long been recognition of the importance of planning for an integrated public transport system, decisions on resource allocation to ensure efficient and equitable provision of public transport are again under the microscope, and we eagerly await the metropolitan Canberra growth strategy review considering these matters.

Mr Moore also talked about a very fast train link. He would know that the previous Government, as well as this Government, did put its money where its mouth was and put money into making feasibility studies available. We cannot be blamed for the lack of direction of New South Wales governments, both Liberal and current, in terms of their decision to continue with the Tilt-train concept, which is outdated technology. We are still in there punching, Mr Moore, making sure that the right sort of technology, such as the Maglev or the other proposal, goes ahead.

In terms of the airport, I was disappointed to hear that Mr Moore did not think there was any potential for making Canberra into an international airport. Mr Moore, I could not disagree with you more. In fact, this Government has commissioned a report on that issue by Air Vice-Marshal Jim Bomball.

Mr Moore: From somebody entirely unbiased.

MR DE DOMENICO: That report outlines the potential for employment, for a start, if that concept were to go ahead. But it is more complicated than that. First of all, we have to wait and see what the Federal Government is going to do about its Federal airports sale plan and whether it wants to sell Canberra Airport. Is there a consortium here, which is the preference of the Government for owning our own airport? Is there then a potential to turn it into an international airport? Like you, Mr Moore, I believe that, if that is going to happen in the ACT, it has to be as Sydney's second airport, preferably linked with the very fast train system. In terms of air freight, I do not think air freight can stand alone; I agree with you. I think we need passengers as well as freight.

Mr Moore talked about the maintenance of roads and cyclepaths. He would also know that we have around 5,460 kilometres - please do not quote me on the exact figures - of roads to maintain.

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