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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 1 Hansard (29 April) . . Page.. 152 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

70 per cent of registration plates issued in the last few weeks have consisted of those with the new slogan on them. However, anecdotal evidence that has been referred to me suggests that that statistic perhaps is not quite correct. Could you provide actual numbers of plates that have been issued since the new ones came into being, showing exactly how many of each type have been issued, how many with the slogan and how many without? I revert to my supplementary question of yesterday when I asked for a specific figure for how many numberplates without slogans were available. Could I also have that information?

MR SMYTH: I thank the member for his question. I do have the numbers here, but they are only up to 21 April. Yesterday I reported to the Assembly that I thought 70 per cent of people had taken the "Feel the Power of Canberra" plates. As at Tuesday, 21 April, we had issued 238 sets of the new plates and at that time 75 per cent of people had opted for the new slogan; that is, 175 of the 238. I am more than happy at any time to give you an update on the plates. The second part of the question was: How many are available? I will have to take that one on notice. I do not know what stock we keep on hand. It varies from time to time during the year. I will be pleased to get an accurate figure for the member.

MR KAINE: I ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Minister, in your response yesterday you said that you assumed that the staff will continue to offer people the option as they front up at the counter. Again, anecdotal evidence suggests that that is not occurring. Would you ensure that when people want to register their cars they are, in fact, offered the option at the time they turn up at the counter and perhaps even go so far as to put signage up in shopfronts indicating to people beforehand that the option is available to them if they wish to exercise it?

MR SMYTH: Yes, I am certainly willing to take on that suggestion about signage. As clients come into the Motor Registry they should be offered that option. Other options include personalised plates. There is a great deal of choice. I will certainly look into any allegations. If you have any specific cases that you would like to bring to my attention, I will certainly discuss them with the staff at the Motor Registry.

MR WOOD: It is my task, I believe, to ask the first question of the new and Independent-Liberal Minister for Health and Community Care. That is to separate him from the ex-Liberal independent Minister who just resumed his seat. I ask this question in the interests of maintaining urgency on the matter that was debated earlier today. The Department of Health and Community Care has accepted the recommendation of the Kendrick review of the COOOL project that it "should transfer directive control" - I guess that is the service provider aspect - "of the COOOL project to a new community governance mechanism". I ask: Does the Government also accept that recommendation? If so, what steps will you take for its rapid implementation?

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