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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 10 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 2828 ..

MRS CROSS (continuing):

Mr Quinlan, may I ask: with so many passionate views about that hated, silly, rotten black fence, why has your government not got the point and removed the fence?

MR SPEAKER: Be careful, Mr Quinlan.

MR QUINLAN: Under the Liberals the fence kept people out. It lined them up so they could pay the fee. But it did serve another purpose. It did provide security over the concessions-

Mr Humphries: But you denied that at the time.

MR QUINLAN: I am being careful. It is the best I can do. To cut to the chase, if it is possible to reduce the intrusion of the fence to the single purpose of protecting the concessions without inhibiting access to Floriade generally, then that will be done.

MRS CROSS: Mr Speaker, I bet you are glad you are sitting in that chair at the moment.

MR SPEAKER: I think I would rather you were asking me the question.

MRS CROSS: Mr Quinlan, since you have admitted that this fence is for security reasons, will your government now admit that the Liberals were right to include a fence due to increasing vandalism of the floral display? Will your government apologise to the former Liberal government for Labor's dishonest campaign about the true purpose for the fence?

MR QUINLAN: I think the answer to that one is: in your dreams. I think that was not a question. It was a statement. I can only repeat what I have said before. Unlike our predecessors, our intention will be to maximise free public access to Floriade by the people of Canberra.

Bus services

MS TUCKER: My question is to Mr Corbell as minister responsible for ACTION buses. Minister, it has come to my attention that no ACTION bus service goes past the National Zoo and Aquarium next to Scrivener Dam. This is quite surprising, given that the government is trying to promote tourism opportunities in Canberra and that the National Zoo and Aquarium is putting much effort into expanding its zoo facilities and increasing its visitor numbers. It is also surprising given that there are a number of stops that could be made along the western side of Lake Burley Griffin for visitors and locals seeking recreational activities, starting at the National Museum, then Black Mountain Peninsula, the new Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Yarramundi, the National Zoo and Aquarium and Scrivener Dam. This area might seem out of the way, given that it is surrounded by open space, but it is in the geographical heart of Canberra and on a major road corridor.

Minister, are you going to look at getting a bus service along Lady Denman Drive to service the western side of Lake Burley Griffin?

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