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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (18 June) . . Page.. 1748 ..

MS McRAE: Mr Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for the Environment, and it relates to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Minister, you have announced that concessions will be available to visitors to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve under the new $8 entry fee proposal. How are you going to implement the concessions regime for visitors travelling to the reserve in cars? Will the concession be provided on the basis that the driver of the car is eligible for a concession or if a passenger in the car is eligible for a concession? Alternatively, what will happen if the driver of a car is eligible for a concession but three of their passengers are not? What will happen if the driver of the car is not eligible for a concession but their passengers are? Minister, is it not the case that the concessions regime for people visiting Tidbinbilla by car is ill thought through and unworkable?

MR HUMPHRIES: Dear, oh dear, oh dear, Mr Speaker! Goodness me! Is this really a question worthy of question time? Do you not have anything else? We could give you some questions if you really want a decent question. Just come around and ask us.

Ms McRae: You cannot answer it. That is why you are having a go at me. Why don't you just answer it?

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR HUMPHRIES: I shall be tabling in this place tomorrow the determination which provides for fees. You can see in there what arrangements are made for concessions. Mr Speaker, I do not know what arrangements are made for people with concessions. I know that we are providing concessions.

Ms McRae: There you go. You cannot answer my question, can you?

MR HUMPHRIES: No, I cannot. Mr Speaker, if Ms McRae is ever in the fortunate position of being over here as a Minister, perhaps even as Minister for the Environment, I dare say she would not be able to answer such a question either.

Mrs Carnell: Nor should she.

MR HUMPHRIES: Nor should she. Mr Speaker, if Ms McRae does not like the new fees arrangements, let her move a motion of disallowance when they are tabled in the Assembly tomorrow.

MS McRAE: I have a supplementary question. The Minister has conceded that he has announced a policy that he knows nothing about. Minister, have you indicated by default that concessions will not be available to people who visit Tidbinbilla by car, that it is not workable? As car visits account for a very high proportion of those visits, that means that the entry charge scheme is inequitable and should not proceed, in the very cases you are suggesting. You have announced a policy that you seem to know nothing about.

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