Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .
Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 10 Hansard (24 September) . . Page.. 3667 ..
MR BERRY (continuing):
It was a matter of great sadness for me to see the early morning and afternoon services abandoned by the New South Wales government. I trust that, between all of us, we are able to influence the government in New South Wales to restore those services. In the long term, we need to build on a very ordinary train service that exists now and make sure that it services the people of the ACT-but not only the people of the ACT who want to travel on it; also those people between here and Sydney that need to travel on the train system. There are also those who are ideologically rusted onto rail systems, like me, who would like to see the establishment of better rail systems throughout this country.
The Stanhope government is rather lumbered now with the prospect of dealing with something that has been quite out of its control. I know that every effort will be put into ensuring that something happens which, to the best of our ability, ensures that there is a restoration of a better train system and improvements in the future.
MRS DUNNE (6.49): As I said before, the Liberal opposition considers Ms Dundas's amendment is an adornment, and we will support it for many of the reasons that Mr Speaker has outlined. We face the situation that we have run down our rail stock while we were mesmerised by the very fast train. The situation has come where other jurisdictions have said, "Perhaps it is not time for the very fast trains. We will have a moderately fast train."One that goes would be good.
Then we should be moving on to one that goes reasonably fast. Queensland has introduced the tilt train between Brisbane and places north. When he was a schoolboy, my husband calculated that the train between Rockhampton and Queensland used to go marginally slower than Stephenson's Rocket for most of the time, but now it runs at 200-odd kilometres an hour. We, too, should aim for those improvements on this route and make, at this end of the line, a significant contribution to ensuring that that happens.
Amendment agreed to.
Motion, as amended, agreed to.
Adjournment
Motion (by Mr Stanhope ) proposed:That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Mr John Hargreaves
MRS DUNNE (6.49): I raise just a small matter, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker. This morning one of the members for Brindabella, Mr Hargreaves, rose in here to talk about solipsism. When challenged, he decided to inform us that that was his interpretation of the word. While a very able member representing the people of Tuggeranong, he is not yet a bibliophile. Don't give up your day job to try to work it out. You said, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, that solipsism was your interpretation of what it meant. We have to beg to differ. It is wrong, and don't give up your day job.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
The Assembly adjourned at 6.50 pm.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .