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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 8 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 3019 ..

MR CORBELL: All that Mr Smyth says is simply untrue, Mr Speaker. Is he seriously claiming that I do not release the figures for waiting lists every month? Is that what Mr Smyth is claiming? If he is claiming that, then he is simply wrong, because the figures are released every month. I challenge any member of this place to point out to me where they haven't been released on a monthly basis. Because they are released on a monthly basis. Every consecutive month there is a new waiting list released.

It sounds to me, Mr Speaker, like an untruth, but I would suggest otherwise. It sounds to me like an untruth, but maybe that's something Mr Smyth may be conscious of.

Mr Smyth: Have you just misled the Assembly?

Mr Hargreaves: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: the Leader of the Opposition just asked the minister the question did he just mislead the Assembly. I ask that he withdraw the word "mislead".

MR SPEAKER: I didn't hear that.

Mr Smyth: I didn't actually say that. I didn't say, "You have misled the Assembly."I asked the rhetorical question: "Have you mislead the Assembly?"The minister said he releases the figures every month.

MR SPEAKER: Order! There is a clear imputation there, and I want you to withdraw it.

Mr Smyth: I am happy to withdraw it.

MR SPEAKER: Before I call Ms MacDonald, I am advised that Ms Ninette Jenet, who is 96, is in the gallery. She is Mr Cross' Red Cross grandmother. Welcome.

ACTION bus fares

MS MacDONALD: My question is to the Minister for Planning, Mr Corbell. Minister, it has been 12 months since the introduction of ACTION's single zone fare system. Would the minister indicate to the Assembly the results of this initiative?

MR CORBELL: I thank Ms MacDonald for the question. Indeed, the one fare anywhere scheme was an election commitment of this government and is one about which I am very pleased to provide information to the Assembly. Mr Speaker, you will recall that, when Labor, then in opposition, proposed the introduction of one fare anywhere, the previous government claimed that it was going to be a complete flop. They said it was pointless, that we did not need it, and that it was not appropriate. "Just do not do it, Labor Party"-that is what they said, Mr Speaker.

I am very pleased to advise that, one year later-so we have seen a full year now of the operation of one fare anywhere-we have seen a 9 per cent increase in adult patronage over that period of time. Because of our investment in public transport, which is $46.8 million more than the previous government's, we are seeing commuters choosing to leave their vehicles at home and catch the bus. That is because we have halved the amount that it costs to cross a zone, because we do not have zones any more, and we

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