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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 2 Hansard (20 May) . . Page.. 411 ..

MR HARGREAVES (continuing):

everybody on it - Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all - but I am suggesting that their relationship with their constituents is not working. I have had numerous complaints from people saying that they do not hear anything from them, and that needs to be examined.

I was accused of going public after knowing full well what the Government was going on about. That is not so, Mr Speaker. I first complained about this issue in February. I was not elected to this place until considerably later than that. If the Minister wants to make a goose of himself repeatedly, who am I to stand in his way? At least he ought to get his dates right. He would know, if he watches television or, indeed, if he does go doorknocking to the extent to which he does, that I was dealing with this issue considerably before either of us was elected to this place. I was pushing these things. Indeed, it was I who asked them to get on with their review. My reason for bringing this matter into this place under private members business is not to score points against the Government or in favour of the Opposition. What I want is an outcome for the kids on these buses and for the parents that approach me, in much the same way as I know the Minister and the Government are committed to that outcome. To suggest that this is merely a point-scoring exercise is not only scurrilous, Mr Speaker, but also plain stupid; but I would expect nothing less.

I will just sum up now. What I want this review to do is to pick up the things that would not be reviewed in the normal course of events, those other things. DUS certainly has responsibility for traffic and roads and things like that. They do convene committees. But I have to say, Mr Speaker, that it is the first time I have heard that the traffic and roads people and the planning people have sat on that interagency committee and contributed to it. What I am asking is that that happen. That is all I am asking for. If the Government picks up those add-ons to this review and means what it says about going right back, counting the eyes, dividing by two and working out how many buses we have to provide, that would be wonderful. I would be the first to come out in public and congratulate them for that, particularly on the outcome.

Motion, as amended, agreed to.

MS TUCKER (3.40): I ask for leave to move a motion to appoint a Select Committee on Gambling.

Leave granted.

MS TUCKER: I move:

That:

(1)(a) a Select Committee on Gambling be appointed to inquire into and report by the first sitting day of 1999 on the social and economic impacts of gambling in the ACT, with particular reference to poker machines;

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