Page 661 - Week 03 - Thursday, 15 March 2007
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I am also happy to say that money for security cameras was allocated in the 2006-07 budget, not a couple of years ago. I am advised that the cameras will be installed before the end of this financial year. These two misstatements of fact by the TWU are part of their continuing campaign, I believe, on EBA negotiations. The union is attempting to apply pressure, keep the stories rolling and use unwarranted bad publicity to gain concessions.
Mr Smyth: The TWU wouldn’t do that, would they, Mick?
MR HARGREAVES: To be quite honest, it is a legitimate part of an industrial process, but your WorkChoices legislation would remove any type of legitimate industrial process. People will use whatever pressure they feel they need to use to bring about wage justice and conditions justice for their workers. I will defend their right to do that at any time. We just need to recognise it for what it is, but I will defend their right to do it, as I have done on many occasions.
It is the government’s priority to ensure that ACTION lives within its means and continues to provide an effective public transport service for Canberrans. To that end, I will welcome the findings of the committee when it reports.
I thank Mrs Dunne for bringing the motion forward. I have moved the amendment circulated in my name. I have attempted to move away from the term “mass transport” generally because the issue in the public arena at the moment is around the bus service. It is not about light rail, it is not about air travel and it is not about the taxi service. The issue that we have at this time is to do with the bus service. Whether it be about the mass passenger transport system, workers, commuters or school kids really matters not. We are talking about the bus service and I want to make sure that the conversation is focused on that, hence the amendment. I commend the amendment to the Assembly and would seek members’ support for that amendment.
MR MULCAHY (Molonglo) (5.01): I speak today in support of what will become the amended motion. The amendment will enjoy the support of the opposition as well. I believe the ACT government needs to look quickly at the bus timetable situation and that which was in operation before the introduction of the network 06 arrangements in December 2006 and thoroughly review all services to ensure that ACTION in fact provides a service that meets the needs of all users.
My interest in this area has been prompted by the number of representations I have had, which I have passed on to the minister’s office so that he is aware of community disquiet over the new timetable. It is generally recognised that the introduction of network 06 was a mistake that has not been well received by the ACT community. The government, I suspect, is starting to understand that it was a mistake to slash $10 million from ACTION bus routes, and that is why the operator is set to reintroduce a number of the abolished services towards the end of this year, an action which bus users believe cannot come soon enough.
It is one thing to make a mistake, but there is nothing worse than failing to admit or acknowledge that mistake and give credit where credit is due. The recognition is starting to sink in that a better job should have been done and that remedial action is required.
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