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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 12 Hansard (12 November) . . Page.. 3987 ..

Amendments agreed to.

Bill, as a whole, as amended, agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

MR WHITECROSS (11.09): Mr Speaker, I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) condemns the degrading of Canberra's public transport system by the Liberal Government over the last three years including:

(a) the reduction of ACTION's budget by $12m including $2m in the most recent budget;

(b) the cuts in services which have resulted in patronage losses of 25 per cent in 1996-97 alone;

(c) the rise in fares of over 50 per cent;

(d) the 10 per cent reduction to school bus services in the current school year; and

(e) the effect that reduced services have had on increased motor vehicle use and, consequently, greenhouse gas emissions.

(2) expresses grave concerns about the lack of action by the Minister for Urban Services to implement the Graham Report; and

(3) calls for immediate action by the Government to implement the Graham Report in order to address the crisis of confidence in Canberra's public transport system.

Mr Speaker, I think now is the time for us to be having another look at public transport in the ACT and at where we are going with public transport as we move towards the end of the term of the Carnell Liberal Government. I think it is appropriate that we see where we have got to with public transport and look at where we appear to be going with public transport under the Liberals, so that we, as individual members of the Assembly, and the community at large can consider the implications of the next election for the future of public transport in this city.

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