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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 2 Hansard (21 February) . . Page.. 480 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

There is no legal requirement on me, or any other member of this place, to act on any of the recommendations. The government is under no obligation to adopt the recommendations. It is under no duty to consult with Justice Gallop about his recommendations. Indeed, his role as a commissioner has come to an end.

The Chief Minister, or any other member, would not be interfering with Justice Gallop's rights in commenting on his report. This is not an issue where a decision has been taken to affect any rights held by Justice Gallop. He has conducted the inquiry and provided a report to the government without interference.

There is no question of Justice Gallop's rights being affected by any comments made about the report. I hope that clarifies the situation of Justice Gallop's rights to natural justice, Mrs Cross.

Litter

MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, I would like to elaborate on a question from Mr Cornwell yesterday about Rond Pond. As you know, the pond has several functions. It controls the litter brought down in the stormwater system and prevents this litter from accumulating in Commonwealth Park or entering Lake Burley Griffin. It is also ornamental most of the time.

A cage near the point where the stormwater pipes enter Rond Pond contains most of the rubbish within the pipe system. During very heavy stormwater flows, such as those that occurred on Saturday 16 February, this rubbish is washed out into Rond Pond. The pond is inspected after each storm and subsequently placed on the priority list for cleaning if required. Cleaning of the pond is being carried out by the maintenance contractors this afternoon. There are 80 such ponds and traps in the ACT. Each one is inspected following a storm, and there is quite a deal of work to do after a storm of the nature that we experienced.

Class sizes

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, further to Mr Pratt's question in question time today about the number of additional teachers to be recruited for the smaller class sizes initiative, I am happy to advise him that an additional 140 teachers will be recruited for the kindergarten and year 2 stage of the program over the next three-year period, the 2002 to 2004 financial years. This year 45 additional teachers have been employed. Mr Speaker, an additional 55 teachers will be required to reduce the year 3 classes to 21 students per class in 2004. I hope that answers Mr Pratt's question.

ACTION bus services

MR CORBELL: In relation to Mrs Cross's question about Booz Allen and Hamilton's assessment of the Liberal's free school bus scheme, I do not have any additional information in relation to the free school bus scheme but I should point out to Mrs Cross and Booz Allen and Hamilton also advised a former Chief Minister, Mrs Carnell, that she could save over $10 million per annum in health in hospitals alone. Mr Speaker, I am advised that the following year she had to ask for an additional $14 million. This says something about the advice in that respect.

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