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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 579 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

The adequacy of the processes and systems used by ACTION to develop its routes and timetables; the methods used by ACTION to determine the most cost-effective routes and services; how ACTION uses its resources in meeting passenger demand; how ACTION promotes its services to the community; ACTION service reliability; how ACTION service standards compare with bus passenger services in other State capitals; the relationship between bus patronage and the downturn in the ACT economy; fare prices; demographic change and recent changes to timetables; and, finally, to elicit suggested measures to improve ACTION services and identify the changes required in ACTION operations to bring them about.

As I said in my statement of 18 February, the review of ACTION is required for a number of reasons. We know that patronage is down and that ACTION's revenue stream has been adversely affected as a result. We know that some ACTION users are unhappy with new timetables and scheduling. We are also very conscious of the cost of providing ACTION services and the efforts ACTION has made over a number of years to reduce those costs. Importantly, we also know that ACTION is highly valued in the community, and we want to retain and enhance that value. That is why the Government has initiated this review. We want to discover how well ACTION compares with other urban transport providers and how its services can be improved.

Mr Speaker, the Government has been fortunate to engage Roger Graham and Associates to undertake this review. Mr Graham is recognised as a specialist and a leader in developing passenger transport strategies for specific economic and operational requirements. He has a dynamic mix of public and private sector transport expertise gained over 25 years that equips him well to undertake the review. He brings a great deal of expertise and is well placed to review ACTION. Apart from holding senior management positions in a number of companies, Mr Graham has held executive positions with the New South Wales Public Transport Commission and the New South Wales Urban Transit Authority. He was also a member of the board of the State Transit Authority of New South Wales.

Mr Graham has helped the New South Wales Department of Transport formulate new transport laws and has advised the Victorian and Queensland Departments of Transport and the Western Australian commission for the review of public sector finances on formulating reviews of urban passenger transport services. Mr Graham was engaged by the Brisbane City Council to undertake an analysis of the council's bus routes and services to determine whether each of the bus routes and timetables met current customer needs. This work is highly relevant to the proposed review of ACTION services.

Because of the importance that the Government places on this review, Mr Graham has been asked to report by 30 April. The Assembly well knows the Government's commitment to providing the best services possible to its customers across every facet of its administration. This review can therefore be seen as an important plank in the Government's customer commitment program. Awareness of environmental, town planning and community expectations, together with a detailed knowledge of operational procedures, will enable Mr Graham and his firm to review existing public transport arrangements and, where possible, develop new proposals for providing

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