Page 2994 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 6 August 2008
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information and getting between platforms because you were not on the right one or because you missed that bus and you want to try another bus. That is really difficult for people with mobility and sight problems. There are concerns about the morale and the work ethic of ACTION staff, including drivers and information staff. Some of our constituents have reported unsafe driving practices or insufficient knowledge of routes. Just a couple of days ago, one of my worker’s bus driver got lost and she was half an hour late for work.
And there is the under-resourcing of information staff. It is a bit of a pity when you go to the ACTION information centre there in Bailey’s Arcade and (1) you are told that they do not know the answer to your question or (2) the people are just plain rude. And I am afraid it happens, Mr Speaker.
I acknowledge that the government has taken some steps to address transport options for our older residents. I welcome the recently announced regional community bus service. I do, however, think that more could be done to address the issue of transport and its role in social inclusion.
Another issue raised with me is access to affordable and appropriate housing. Having no fixed abode has a huge detrimental impact on social inclusion. There is homelessness and couch surfing amongst the older population. We do not call it couch surfing when an elderly person parks, by necessity, with a relative and really cannot move on. That is not a position of power for that elderly person. It certainly opens them up to elder abuse, and it might not be so good for the family member whose house they are in either. Pensions just are not high enough to cope with the rising cost of living. Lower levels of public housing and a stricter limit for public housing eligibility have meant that some needy older people miss out—
At 6.00 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the debate was interrupted and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting. The motion for the adjournment of the Assembly was put.
Adjournment
Papers
DR FOSKEY (Molonglo): I seek leave to table some explanatory statements for two bills introduced during recent sittings.
Leave granted.
DR FOSKEY: I table the following papers:
Civil Partnerships Amendment Bill 2008—Explanatory statement.
Waste Minimisation (Container Recovery) Amendment Bill 2008—Explanatory statement.
These are the explanatory statements for the Waste Minimisation (Container Recovery) Amendment Bill 2008, which I introduced into the Assembly on
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