Page 94 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 15 February 2006
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purchased by the government have surveillance cameras in them. He said it was considering cameras for the older part of the fleet, but there were no guarantees. He said:
We are able with the bus fleet replacement program at very minimal extra cost to have the new buses that we purchase installed with a camera. The issue is to what extent we can afford to retrofit the existing fleet. That is not something the government has been able to find the resources to do this coming financial year, but we will consider it in future years.
If the government can plan to fork out hundreds of millions of dollars on a new busway, then it should also be able to find the funding to ensure that security cameras for older ACTION buses is a priority among the budget bids taken to cabinet. It is no wonder the government cannot find the funding for security cameras anyway. As we know, they are unable to properly manage the economy. So it appears that not only will we have no security cameras, but also we will not have a multi-million dollar busway. If the government is serious about boosting bus patronage, this sort of security measure is a must, otherwise some patrons may decide it is just simply not safe enough for them to travel on buses, particularly at night. Safety must be a priority for government funding, and the safety of our bus drivers is paramount.
While this is not the only safety measure that can be implemented, I think it is probably the most urgent starting point. The government should look at improving the current system so that patrons feel safe and secure when travelling. One of the most common complaints I hear is that people do not want to catch buses because they do not feel safe, either on the bus or at the interchanges. Bus stop interchange safety needs to be drastically improved, as a recent violent attack on a young Sudanese man at Mawson shows.
Let us look in a little bit more detail at some of the other shortcomings of this government’s commitment to the sustainable transport plan. One of the key issues listed in the sustainable transport plan is:
The need to provide: mobility and access to work, home, shops, business, recreation, services and activities across the whole of Canberra.
Under the heading “Regional transport links”, the plan states:
Supporting the role of the Canberra International Airport as an economic generator for Canberra and the region.
How can the government be demonstrating its commitment to the sustainable transport plan when an ACTION bus service is still not provided to the airport? Many people may now need access to the airport. It is the entranceway to Canberra, yet this government does not believe it should provide an ACTION service to such an important hub. If the minister is reconsidering that or if his position has been updated, perhaps we can hear from him here today. I would be very happy to hear about that.
The suburb of Hall is actually within the ACT. According to the sustainable transport plan, the government needs to provide access to work and home, but the people who live in Hall have no means of transport other than their private means. No bus service has been extended to Hall residents. This government is not providing access across the
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