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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 12 Hansard (12 November) . . Page.. 4037 ..

MR HIRD (continuing):

That is why we are talking and taking the time to consult with those within the community. We are also undertaking statistically sound surveys to complement the consultation processes. This information will give the Government a firm basis on which to plan.

The Graham review reported that ACTION's current flat fare structure is inadequate and is a substantial constraint to increasing patronage levels, particularly for those who want to travel short distances or through interchanges. The current fares system has been in place for a long time. We all know that people travelling from, say, Gungahlin to Civic, through the Belconnen interchange, pay twice as much as those who travel on the direct service. That is one of the issues we asked Graham to consider. The report recommends that the current system of a flat fare with forced transfers be abandoned and replaced with a more equitable system - one that does not erode ACTION's required levels of revenue, but more equitably apportions ticket prices according to distance travelled and the cost of service provision.

It is not the Labor Party that has made these suggestions; it is this Government's own report which has suggested that a new fares system be adopted in Canberra - one that restores equity and encourages patronage growth for ACTION. The Minister is to be complimented for that. ACTION has developed a zone-based fares model, and this is currently being assessed by a consultant to ensure that it meets the objectives outlined by Roger Graham. It is proposed that a new fares structure be introduced around the same time as the new network. The fares model will need to take into account the broad features of the new network.

There were suggestions that we could fix the transport problems of our city by making car travel less attractive. What did those members really have in mind? Does the Labor Party have a plan to introduce tollways? I do not know and neither do they, I think. We believe that ACTION's services can be made a viable alternative to the car. So, rather than increasing the cost of travel, we need to foster habits of use of public transport. These changes will not happen overnight. Even the Conservation Council, in their recent report, acknowledged that it will take time. The Government has started its improvements to ACTION services. I would like to repeat, for Mr Corbell's information, that the Government will operate a summer network as in previous years.

We are addressing the transport needs of Gungahlin. That is where we held the first meeting on the new network. I compliment the Minister for that. You on that side of the house did not compliment him. While it is difficult to introduce public transport into suburbs that are still under construction, we are progressively improving our services. Well done, Minister! Let me give an example. From February next year a new express service on route 251 will service Harcourt Hill, Nicholls, West Ngunnawal and Amaroo. Additional trips will start on route 500 between Palmerston and the city. When the town centre opens the buses will stop at the town centre.

This morning, Mr Corbell referred to excess walking distances from bus stops. I would like to assure him and those opposite, and the house, that we have not changed the standards of yesterday, 12 months ago, or years ago. They remain at 500 metres and are comparable to the standards in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Mr Kaine, the Minister,

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