Page 5541 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 17 November 2010
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MR STANHOPE: I thank Ms Bresnan for the question. Indeed, I have also received some representations, like you—indeed I believe a couple—from constituents raising the same concern around changes that they do not believe they were made aware of. Indeed, there have been changes—not a great number, but there have been a significant number. I and ACTION, of course, regret the inconvenience and the fact that people have missed buses because they were not aware that some times in relation to some routes had changed. That is a matter of regret. I do know that there were some children who were inconvenienced in that way, and that is always doubly regrettable.
Having said that, Ms Bresnan, I think first and foremost I need to say that ACTION have provided a copy of the new timetable to every household in the ACT as a starting point. There was an all-of-Canberra distribution of the timetable—
Mr Coe: A brochure—not a timetable, Jon.
MR STANHOPE: Well, a brochure and detailed information. Detailed information around the new timetable was sent around the new network and around the reforms that the government was seeking to achieve. There was detailed information on when they were starting and, of course, through that, the entire community was alerted to the possibility of changes in their routes through that all-of-Canberra rollout.
There has been significant advertising in the electronic media and the print media. There has been an all-of-Canberra household mail-out. ACTION has gone to significant steps to ensure that the entire community was aware that changes were afoot and when they were starting—indeed, starting this week—and I believe it took appropriate steps to ensure that the entire community was aware.
As always in a change of routine services such as that which we have seen in relation to a change in routes or information, there will be confusion. It is always to be regretted. I certainly hope that, as the new network starts, with the media, the advertising and the community engagement that is a part and parcel of that, that those instances of confusion will diminish and disappear.
MS BRESNAN: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Bresnan.
MS BRESNAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, how many complaints have been received regarding the rollout of the new network and what issues do most of the complaints relate to?
MR STANHOPE: I will take the question on notice.
MS HUNTER: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Hunter.
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