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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (5 November) . . Page.. 3644 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

So, we want to see a better balance. It is an objective that all governments have had ever since self-government. It is not just an objective of this Government; but it is one that I totally subscribe to. If we could double the number of people currently riding on ACTION buses, I would be delighted; but I think it would be rather futile for me to say, "That is the target - to double the number or to increase it by 25 or 30 per cent". The objective is to make it an attractive system so that people will choose to use it. Obviously, the more that do, the better bus system we will have and the better result we will have for the entire community.

MR SPEAKER: And, for the information of members, the report is available at $12.

MR CORBELL: My question is to the Minister for Planning. Minister, last week a member of your staff and endorsed Liberal candidate for Ginninderra, Vicki Dunne, announced a proposal for a road tunnel through O'Connor Ridge as part of a proposed John Dedman Parkway. Minister, do you agree with this proposal, and did you agree to it before it was announced?

Mr Moore: That is an interesting idea. We will consider it. She should put it to the committee.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, if she wants to, she can. I think Mr Corbell has broken the golden rule of politics: Never give advertising to your opponents. But I am very happy to mention Mrs Dunne - that is spelt "D-u-n-n-e"; and her Christian name is Vicki - in this place and allow her to have her proposal further ventilated. I think members need to understand that this Government is not proposing to build the John Dedman Parkway. I can guarantee to members that, when some Minister for Planning comes to consider the building of a John Dedman Parkway, I will be long gone from politics. I promise you that.

Mr Whitecross: After the next election?

MR HUMPHRIES: It could be as early as that, Mr Whitecross.

Mr Whitecross: With any luck.

MR HUMPHRIES: If I had your popularity, Mr Whitecross, I would not be making those sorts of comments. I would not be pointing any fingers or throwing any stones, Mr Whitecross.

The point is that I do not propose to build the parkway. So, I appreciate suggestions about ways in which the road itself might actually be built. I think that, when some government in the future - it may be that Mrs Carnell's Government, many years from now, will still be in office; who knows?; or it could be Ms Tucker's Government or somebody else's - comes to make that decision, it may find the suggestion about an

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