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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 12 Hansard (21 November) . . Page.. 4113 ..

MS HORODNY: We are still waiting for Gungahlin to be connected to North Canberra by a cycleway, even though Gungahlin has been in existence for at least five years. We are also very concerned about the inadequate system of vehicle testing in the ACT that allows excessive exhaust emissions to go virtually undetected, even though this Government made a commitment to have equipment used that does detect vehicle exhaust emissions.

On the planning side, we are concerned about the drop in the rate of betterment being charged on changes to lease purpose clauses from 100 per cent to 75 per cent. There has not been adequate investigation of the implications of this change. The Government has acknowledged, through declaring that it had commissioned a study into the impact of the use rights charge on investment, therefore, that it is not certain about the effect of this charge. Yet, it has already made up its mind on the level of the charge. We are also concerned about the level of resources being devoted to community participation on planning issues; for example, the administrative support given to the LAPACs. We look forward with interest to the Government's announcement on the future of the LAPACs. There is often criticism levelled at community councils and residents groups for not fully representing their members; but true participation requires resources to disseminate information, conduct reviews, process questionnaires and hold public meetings. So, for real community participation, you need real funds.

MR DE DOMENICO (Minister for Urban Services) (1.58 am): Mr Speaker, I am conscious of the time. So, I will not get into a lengthy diatribe. I need to correct Mr Whitecross on a couple of things. For Mr Whitecross's edification, the $55m that he alluded to is the book value of the buses, not the sale price. That is point No. 1. He also needs to know, Mr Speaker, if he listens, that all of the debt associated with the acquisition of the bus fleet will be retired - obviously, when we receive the money. The residual debt he was speaking about related to the land and buildings, not to the buses as well. That is lesson No. 1 in economics for Mr Whitecross. In fact, the reality - once again, if Mr Whitecross cares to listen - is an improvement of the operating result after doing the sale and lease-back arrangement, quite obviously. Once again for Mr Whitecross's notes, if he is taking notes, in 1995-96 ACTION lost $1.661m, and in 1996-97 the operating result is a surplus of $784,000. "Surplus" means more than, not less than. So, that is another point that needs to be made.

I will not comment on the other things that Mr Whitecross said, because we have already seen those things on the front pages on the Chronicle and all sorts of things. By the way, had Mr Whitecross been Minister for Urban Services in charge of transport, he tells us, he would not have increased fares; he would not have rationalised bus services; he would not have sold and leased back the buses; but he still would have made a profit anyway. That is the sort of economic reasoning that members opposite relate to all the time. Of course, it cannot happen, but that is another matter.

Ms Horodny talked about the environment. Once again, the negative side of her comments came through loudly and clearly. Mr Humphries would have been horrified had he been here to listen to Ms Horodny, because there are a lot of positive things being done. There is the creation of five trainee positions, including two rangers, in the ACT Parks and Conservation Service. There was no mention of that by Ms Horodny.

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