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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 7 Hansard (23 September) . . Page.. 2103 ..

Question put:

That the amendment (Ms Carnell's) be agreed to.

The Assembly voted -

AYES, 9	 	NOES, 8

Ms Carnell	Mr Berry
Mr Cornwell	Mr Corbell
Mr Hird		Mr Hargreaves
Mr Humphries	Mr Kaine
Mr Moore	Mr Quinlan
Mr Osborne	Mr Stanhope
Mr Rugendyke	Ms Tucker
Mr Smyth	Mr Wood
Mr Stefaniak

MR RUGENDYKE (4.11): Mr Speaker, there are aspects of these motions which are undeniable. Mr Hargreaves's motion notes that public transport is a basic essential service providing equal access to all in the community. He also notes that bottom line financial results are not the sole determinant of a successful performance, and he calls on the Government to recognise its community service obligations in the provision of public transport services. I could not agree more that these are priorities in providing our city with a satisfactory bus service, but there are aspects of these motions that I cannot agree with.

The issue for me is making our bus service a better service. I know the problems that my own family have had over the years with bus transport. Anyone who has had teenagers growing up know that they rely on buses for transport. I know many families who have had problems similar to our own. At the end of the day, if there are better ways of running our bus service, I would like the other ways to be considered. These options should be weighed up against what we have now. If it is clear that we can make an improvement, let us look at them. Mr Speaker, I am not interested in accepting any motion that will close the option of looking at alternatives which could make our bus service better.

MS TUCKER (4.13): I will wrap up the debate on my motion. The comments I want to make relate to whether or not there has been a mislead in this debate. I want to ask Mr Smyth a question and give him an opportunity to seek leave to speak again during this debate after I have spoken - and I hope members would give him leave to do that - to clarify exactly what he thinks he said and why he thinks he has not misled. I am not convinced at all. Arguments put since, which I have listened to, indicate that he has not given a satisfactory response. I am asking Mr Smyth to respond after I have completed my speech now.

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