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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 13 Hansard (5 December) . . Page.. 4515 ..

MS HORODNY (continuing):

We really have to question why the Government wants to push these changes through. It seems that the primary motive for their introduction is to implement the Government's agenda of opening up government activity to private sector competition. The Government is, in effect, privatising the testing of learner drivers. It matches the move to random vehicle testing and private inspection of cars, which I understand came out of the same review of transport regulations. The new system will cut administrative cost, but at the expense of probably six of the 10 government examiner jobs which are likely to be lost as a result of the changes. In South Australia the number of examiners dropped from 51 to 21 after their system was introduced.

In conclusion, let me quote from the Canberra Times, which I am pleased to say has agreed with our view on this issue.

Mr De Domenico: You must be right if the Canberra Times agrees with you!

MS HORODNY: It is quite rare for the Canberra Times, Mr De Domenico. They do not often agree with us, but they did in this instance. They say:

There is no good economic or administrative reason for privatising licence testing. If licence testing is costing the Government money, it should just increase the fee. In matters of safety and competence, there is a need for objective government standards and testing.

There are no benefits to be gained from competition or privatisation that are not grossly outweighed by the detriment of slipping standards and the potential for corruption. Audits are not enough.

I support this whole issue going to the Legal Affairs Committee. I think that is very appropriate.

MR DE DOMENICO (Minister for Urban Services) (5.49), in reply: Mr Speaker, I was going to be very brief. I probably will still be very brief, because I need to go upstairs and take a Valium tablet, I think. There are a couple of statements that should not go without comment or challenge. Ms Horodny stood up and said that this is a radical change because it offers people choice, because we are accrediting motor vehicle driving instructors and because certificates of competency are going to be issued. What makes that so radical I am blowed if I know. We are talking about choice, accreditation and competency. I would suggest, Ms Horodny, that after reading newspapers and driving along and seeing bunches of flowers on the side of the road, you should realise that there is one thing that this Government will do, with the help of the Assembly, I hope. We will change the way things are being done at the minute, because notwithstanding - - -

Ms Horodny: Where is the benefit?

MR DE DOMENICO: The benefit, Ms Horodny, with the greatest of respect, is that perhaps fewer lives will be lost on the road.

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