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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 1 Hansard (19 February) . . Page.. 120 ..

MS TUCKER: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. My question was: What has the Government done to invite the Friends of SWOW and their legal representatives in more recent months to resolve the issue? It is quite clear why they resorted to court. We have already had that discussion. It was because there was no solution. I am asking you: What has your Government done to meet with SWOW, Friends of SWOW and their legal representatives to avoid the court case, because there is a group of vulnerable students on the campus?

MR STEFANIAK: I will give you one little example, Ms Tucker. When a number of people wanted to start the program at Dickson, the Government actually did talk with the Friends of SWOW Inc. and their legal representatives. I think the department wrote to them, wanting a reply by 2.00 pm on the Monday. We actually thought, as a result of discussions just on that little point, that they did not have any problem with that. We had to wait until we got to court on the Friday, some four days later, before they finally just agreed to that, which was something they indicated that they had agreed to on the Friday or the Thursday before. That is just one example of some recent talking to try to do something in the interests of the actual students. With reasonable people you can reason, Ms Tucker. I think there are a few people here, unfortunately - it is only a small number - who are being quite unreasonable. It is impossible for this department to accede to a condition such as, "There are only three teachers we want to see at SWOW and those three particular individuals have to be there". Ms Tucker, that is a nonsense. No-one can agree to that. I think, in matters such as that, the department is quite right. It has the support of such bodies as the AEU and it certainly has the support of the Government on issues such as that.

Tuggeranong Bus Interchange

MS REILLY: My question is to the Minister for Urban Services. Can the Minister confirm that the Government intends to sell the ACTION bus interchange at Tuggeranong and relocate the interchange to Anketell Street?

MR KAINE: My understanding is that the ACTION terminal at Woden is now surplus. I have not seen a proposal to sell it - - -

Ms Reilly: The question was about Tuggeranong.

MR KAINE: I am sorry; I thought you were talking about the facility at Woden. As far as I know, there is no proposal to sell any ACTION facility at Tuggeranong.

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