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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 12 Hansard (12 November) . . Page.. 4003 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

During the debate today we have heard that ACTION, over the last few years, has rationalised services to improve the efficiency of the bus network. Changes to school bus services over the term of this Government have led to far greater efficiencies and they have largely involved schoolchildren making greater use of route services where it is efficient and practical to do so, and also combining services so that one school bus services a number of schools; that is, one bus, for example, could service government and non-government schools and also primary and secondary schools. They are sensible and practical things to do. I am sure any sane human being would agree, Mr Speaker.

There will always be pressures on any school bus network. I think that is a simple fact of life. We have some 14,000 school bus trips per day across the Territory and I believe we are running a remarkably efficient service - a service that has processes in place to deal with problems as they arise from time to time. When problems do arise my office is made aware of them. I am pleased to say that the frequency of problems is getting less and less. I am also pleased to say that when problems have arisen they have been worked out in a sensible manner by the committee and in conjunction with ACTION. So I make the point, Mr Speaker, that the school bus network is certainly meeting the needs of students. It is operating considerably more efficiently than it did prior to the term of this Government, and the Minister should be commended for his role in ensuring that that occurs.

MR MOORE (12.14): Mr Speaker, when I look at this motion and the amendments I think there is some confusion here today. The motion says:

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

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