Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 8 Hansard (19 August) . . Page.. 2831 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission-ACTION Pricing for the period 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2006-Final Determination-Report 4 of 2003, dated May 2003.

I ask for leave to make a statement.

Leave granted.

MR CORBELL: I have presented the report of the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission entitled ACTION pricing for the Period 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2006, Final Determination, pursuant to the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission Act 1997. This report is the fourth review of ACTION's fares by the commission. I thank the senior commissioner, Mr Paul Baxter, for his report. The government welcomes the commissioner's direction on ACTION fares for the next three years. The determination provides that the price cap not be increased over the next two years and then increased by CPI from 1 July 2005.

This determination is consistent with the government's objective of increasing patronage on ACTION services. In summary, the commission directed that the fare level as at 24 March 2003 should remain unchanged during the period 1 July 2003 until 30 June 2005; that average fare increases in 2005-06 be in line with CPI amendments between the two periods, the 12-month period from 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 and the preceding 12-month period from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004; and ACTION is to provide to the commission its calculation of proposed fares for the period 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 so the commission can confirm that ACTION's proposed fares meet the determination requirements.

The government is committed to providing effective, efficient and improved public transport for Canberrans. In recognition of the important role of public transport in the community the government has announced proposals for significant improvements to the fleet, better interchanging facilities and more frequent and direct services. The government considers that it is appropriate during this upgrading process for fares as a whole to be held constant. The commission's consultation and review period of several months ensured that a large cross-section of the community could express their views about ACTION's services. The government welcomes the commission's price direction. I commend to the Assembly the price direction for ACTION bus fares.

Papers

Mr Wood presented the following papers:

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .