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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 3 Hansard (24 March) . . Page.. 757 ..

MR RUGENDYKE: Mr Speaker, my question is also to the Minister for Urban Services. Minister, I have had representations from a family in the electorate of Ginninderra about two unsavoury incidents at the Belconnen bus interchange last week. A member of the family was assaulted by a group of youths, not once but twice in the space of five days, the first assault occurring mid-afternoon in broad daylight. The family has subsequently sought answers as to who is responsible for security at Belconnen bus interchange. ACTION says it is the police, the police say it is ACTION. Could the Minister please advise the Assembly what measures are in place at Belconnen bus interchange to ensure the security of ACTION patrons, and who is responsible for implementing them?

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, it is great to see that Constable Dave, Uncle Dave, is back on the beat and keeping a watchful eye on his constituents.

Mr Moore: We will support that. You can go back.

MR SMYTH: We are very happy for him to be back there full time at some time in the future. Mr Speaker, we take responsibility for the security of our passengers very seriously. I would have thought that it was a combined function where both ACTION and the police force take responsibility. I would be very sad if there was any duckshoving, as it were. I am not aware of the incident. I will consult with Mr Rugendyke and get the specific details and check it.

As to security, we do have staff stationed at the interchanges. Some of the interchanges do have security cameras to keep an eye on the goings on there. Again, I will find out from Mr Rugendyke the full details of what happened and see what measure can be taken to make sure it does not happen again.

MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, on 10 December last year, when we were discussing the future of ACTEW, I asked you a question without notice, part of which related to a study trip that a very senior member of your department made to France. In your answer to that question you initially said:

As far as I know there are no written reports from the officers. It would not be normal for an officer to provide written reports in those circumstances.

At the end of question time on that day, however, obviously having been given some advice, you amplified that and you said:

... for the information of Mr Kaine, when the officer who did go overseas makes a report - he has not done so at this stage - I am more than happy to give a copy to Mr Kaine.

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