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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 11 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3211 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

This government is moving ahead, delivering better public transport for Canberra, with a major investment in public transport, sustainability and modern buses that meet the needs of the travelling public.

MS GALLAGHER: Minister, how does this fleet replacement program compare to the previous government's program?

MR CORBELL: This is a very pertinent question. I expect the volume on the other side of the house to increase considerably as we move through this answer. As I have indicated, Labor is investing $17.2 million to replace ACTION's ageing bus fleet. How does this contrast with the previous government's bus fleet replacement program? It contrasts very well, because they did not have one.

Mr Smyth: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. In the 2001-02 budget-

MR SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. Resume your seat or you will find yourself sitting outside somewhere. That was a frivolous point of order.

MR CORBELL: The Liberals had no dedicated bus fleet replacement program. They tried to get it all going through their free school-bus bribe. That was how they tried to address the bus fleet replacement program. they proposed that they would buy, as part of their free school-bus travel rort, 19 new buses. How does this contrast with the Labor government's commitment? Let me make it crystal clear. The opposition were proposing to buy 19 new buses. We are proposing to buy 44 new buses for the ACTION bus fleet. There will be 44 new buses on Canberra's streets, 44 buses with wheelchair access, 44 airconditioned buses.

Mr Smyth: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. The minister contradicts himself. Two minutes ago he said-

MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Resume your seat.

Mr Pratt: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. I identify tedious repetition.

MR SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.

MR CORBELL: There will be 44 new buses with wheelchair access, 44 new buses with compressed natural gas, 44 new buses with ultra-low floors. That is this government's commitment, one that puts yours in the shade. No wonder Mr Smyth is embarrassed enough to take points of order.

Civic carousel

MR CORNWELL: My question is addressed to the Minister for Urban Services. I refer to an article in the Canberra Times of 25 September concerning the temporary closure of the Civic carousel, something rather dear to my heart, because in 1974 I voted on its purchase. Comment was made that the Civic carousel was closed yesterday afternoon because of the public liability insurance crisis, as you would be aware, Mr Wood, and will not be reopened until at least late October.

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