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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Tuesday, 25 May 2004) . . Page.. 2205 ..

shopfront. Prior to the change these measures were respectively 7 minutes 70% of the time and 15 minutes 95% of the time. The new measure is representative of the actual wait time being achieved given the requirements for shopfronts to effectively enforce motor vehicle compliance and identity fraud.

(2) The 12 minute target is an average queue wait time calculated across all shopfronts on a daily basis. The average wait time to date across all shopfronts for the current financial year is 12:06 minutes.

(3) The original targets set in the shopfronts before 2001 were arbitrarily set without the benefit of accurate queue time reporting. An automatic queuing system was implemented in Canberra Connect shopfronts in 2002 and the Motor Vehicle Registry in 2003 to address Auditor Generals requirements for accurate performance measurement. The new measure reflects a consistent measure that meets the requirements of motor vehicle compliance and customer service.

Seniors—transport reciprocity scheme
(Question No 1424)

Mr Cornwell asked the Chief Minister, upon notice, on 30 March 2004:

In relation to a national transport reciprocity scheme for seniors as at 30 March August 2004:

(1) Regarding the offer from the Commonwealth Government of funding of $49,000 in 2003-04, $50,000 in 2004-05 and $53,000 in 2005-06 for reciprocal State and Territory seniors transport concessions, has the ACT Government signed the agreement accepting the Commonwealth’s offer;

(2) If not, why not and when will it do so.

Mr Stanhope: The answer to the member’s questions is as follows:

(1) No.

(2) By way of background, State and Territory Governments, in consultation with the Commonwealth Government, have for some time been attempting to introduce a national reciprocal transport concessions regime for Seniors Cardholders.

In early 2001, Community Services Ministers indicated support for an option where daily transport tickets in capital cities would be made available to Seniors Card holders at the existing concession rate.

In October 2001, in the lead up to the last Federal elections, the Prime Minister, without reference to States and Territories, made a commitment to fund a national scheme. The details of the offer however was not made clear until the following May when the then Minister for Family and Community Services Minister, Senator Vanstone, wrote to State and Territory Ministers stating that the offer was for another option, which had already been rejected by Community Services Ministers as being unfeasible.

State and Territory Ministers subsequently wrote to Senator Vanstone formally rejecting the Commonwealth’s offer, but indicating preparedness to continue negotiations. Senator Vanstone however did not respond to these letters.

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