Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 1 Hansard (19 February) . . Page.. 118 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

Let us take the argument a bit further. These people who are no longer travelling on ACTION buses, according to the Opposition, get to work in some other fashion. Can you explain to me what is the mode of transport they are using? Are they riding bicycles? Are they walking? It is evident that they are not getting out of the buses and into their cars, because the revenue for parking is down as well. So, how are these people getting to work? If they are still getting to work, how are they getting there? Maybe you can answer the question yourself, Mr Berry.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Mr Kaine, you mentioned that there was plenty of evidence. Will you table that evidence? Would you agree that a far more plausible explanation for the drop in patronage is the reduction of ACTION services and the introduction of Bus Book '96 in May 1996 and the subsequent huge increases in fares in July 1996?

MR SPEAKER: It is an expression of opinion.

MR KAINE: I am quite happy to table the statistics that show the reduction in the strength of the Australian Public Service in this town, if that is what Mr Berry wants. I do not believe his proposition that somehow changing the schedules of the buses has frightened 5,000 people off them. There is no logic at all to that, and I do not accept it simply because he asserts it.

MS TUCKER: Mr Speaker, my question is for Mr Stefaniak. Mr Stefaniak, could you please tell members of this place what efforts your Government has made to invite the Friends of the School Without Walls and their legal representatives to meaningful discussions towards settlement of the matters before them, to avoid a court case?

MR STEFANIAK: Ms Tucker, they were the ones who wanted the court case; it was not us. We did not particularly want to go to court.

Ms Tucker: Because there was no solution in sight. Would you answer the question?

MR STEFANIAK: I am answering your question.

MR SPEAKER: Order! The Minister is endeavouring to answer the question.

Ms Tucker: He is avoiding it.

MR STEFANIAK: As I told you yesterday, we have made numerous attempts to look at this rationally and sensibly, in the best interests of all students. The Friends of SWOW Inc. took the action to court. I understand from reports in the Canberra Times that they have new legal representatives and they want to continue with the action in court. In relation to this matter, Ms Tucker, further to what I told you yesterday,

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .