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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 5 Hansard (5 May) . . Page.. 1369 ..

MR SMYTH: I will have to get a firm figure for the member as to exactly how many have been transferred at this stage. We have set in train our process. The Federal Government gave us a grant that enabled us to set up a model which may be used around the country. We hope that it will because we believe the model will work. It sets up a process that allows us to offer these houses for them to either reject or accept so that we can set up alternative providers to look after the interests of ACT Housing tenants.

MR WOOD: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Is it a fact, Minister, that only a relatively small number of houses have been transferred and there is practically no cash flow at all in the community sector at this stage? In light of your promise, I take it you will table a list of those houses that have been actually transferred? I do not mean allocated, I mean transferred.

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, members would be aware that we have transferred McPherson Court for redevelopment to the controller of Community Housing Canberra. That is the start of the process, and the process is moving along very nicely. Other houses have been offered and accepted. Some have been rejected. As I said, I will get the member an up-to-date total.

MR HARGREAVES: My question is to the Minister for Urban Services. Minister, in yesterday's budget announcements I see that Urban Services will be introducing speed cameras from 1 July this year. Will these cameras be static or mobile? Will they be placed in a locality and retrieved at a later time, or will they be operated by people? Have these people been trained?

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, we do intend to introduce such speed cameras. They are a very important initiative in reducing the road toll. Our road toll seems to move somewhere between 17 and 22 deaths a year, which is far too high for a city like Canberra. I am told that in Victoria they dropped the accident rate by some 20 per cent with the introduction of speed cameras. If we could do the same, I would be very pleased. I would like to drop it by 100 per cent. We need to work out the details of how we will implement them and what techniques we will use. At this stage I will simply say that they are to be introduced on 1 July and I look forward to the results that they will bring.

MR HARGREAVES: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. The Minister did not answer the question. I suppose that was because he does not know the answer. Will you confirm, Minister, that only officers from the Department of Urban Services will control and operate these cameras?

MR SMYTH: Mr Hargreaves always likes to make snide remarks and little off-the-cuff comments. Perhaps he should listen to the first answer before he asks a supplementary question. He asked whether certain details had been determined. My answer was no,

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