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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 4 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 1124 ..

Motion (by Mr Humphries) proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

MR BERRY (6.34): I have received a couple of emails in response to the "caring budget". Mr Speaker, I would like to read onto the record the views of a constituent as expressed in an email to me. I understand that the same email was sent to Mr Smyth, to Mr Hird even, to my colleague Mr Stanhope, to Mr Stefaniak and to Mr Rugendyke. It is about a letter addressed to the manager of ACTION buses in the following terms:

I have examined the proposed fare structure described on Action's web page and in today's Canberra Times.

I am very disappointed with two aspects of the structure. These are:

. scrapping of the weekly ticket.

. no mention of the adult off peak daily ticket.

Scrapping the weekly ticket means that travel by bus for a given seven day period increases from $29 to at least $34. This represents an increase of at least 17.2% and feels like revenue raising by stealth. Please note that the monthly ticket does not suit my needs.

The adult off peak daily allowed very economical travel in off peak periods and at the weekend. I trust that Action had valid data to show that this change is revenue neutral.

I request a detailed explanation regarding the scrapping of the weekly ticket and the failure to mention the adult off peak daily.

I trust that Mr Smyth's office will pick up on this issue and respond to the person who has written to them.

I have also received a letter directed to me in relation to the Government's "caring budget". It reads:

Dear Mr Berry,

I own a house, a station wagon and have two children who cross two bus zones to go to school!

Ouch!

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