Page 5142 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
As is widely known, there are already stresses and a lack of resources across the ACT bus network. Rather than fixing problems with the network, precious resources have been applied to this experiment that is set to fail. This dead running will tally up to considerable amounts of fuel and emissions.
It seems, just like the ACT Labor Party on this matter, all that the ACT Greens are interested in are positive headlines. As part of the agreement, the Labor Party and the Greens signed up to the following:
2.4 Adopting a goal of guaranteed bus frequency of 30 minutes. The first stage of the proposal, considering time periods and appropriate locations should begin implementation by the middle of 2009.
It is now late 2009, and for the Greens to claim Redex is part of achieving the terms of their agreement is, indeed, very shallow. It shows that the Greens are not willing to be a third force in ACT politics and are nothing more than an appendage of the Labor Party in this place.
The Labor Party-Greens agreement also shows they are not even interested in Gungahlin commuters. There is no commitment to park and ride or bike and ride in Gungahlin as part of the agreement. How can the Greens claim to be a party of the environment and integrated transport if they cannot even make the simple commitments required for Gungahlin commuters? In a press release late last week, the Greens transport spokesman, Amanda Bresnan, said:
“If the REDEX trial is a success, we would like to see the Government expand the REDEX service to include another route in the 2010-11 Budget, either from Belconnen or Tuggeranong.”
As I have pointed out already, these services were announced as part of this budget but have already been abandoned. The Greens have nothing more than a shallow and glib commitment to the transport needs of the ACT.
The Canberra Liberals are the only party that offer practical solutions to the transport challenge and a move away from the stale and outdated approach of the other parties in this place.
MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Minister for Transport, Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Business and Economic Development, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Minister for the Arts and Heritage) (10.24): The ACT is committed to providing sustainable transport for Canberrans. The ACT government continues to improve our public transport system, which is paramount to reducing transport emissions and preparing for a low carbon future. One important initiative is the new Redex trial and, contrary to Mr Coe’s continued talking down of Canberra’s excellent public transport system, the government continues to invest to make our public transport system better.
The government will, not surprisingly I am sure, amend Mr Coe’s motion, and I will take the opportunity now to move the amendment being circulated in my name. I move:
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video