Page 3011 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 August 2013
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DR BOURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker, on relevance. We have really, really found out what this question is about. It was about what new information did the minister become aware of between September and the announcement of the light rail. Now this is something completely different.
MADAM SPEAKER: The standing orders, Dr Bourke, say that one supplementary question may be asked by the member who asked the original question provided the supplementary question is relevant to the original question. I think the original question was about Infrastructure Australia and the choice between light rail and rapid bus transit. The question has no preamble and arises out of the answer given. I think Mr Coe asking the responsible minister when he made a decision in relation to a particular mode is directly relevant. Mr Corbell.
MR CORBELL: Infrastructure Australia was advised when the government was re-elected and returned to office to implement its program.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, if no information came to light after your application to Infrastructure Australia, were you wasting Infrastructure Australia’s time by putting in your original submission?
MR CORBELL: No, because unlike those opposite we actually take the view that government is empowered to set and determine policy, policy that it believes is in the best long-term interests of our city. There is no doubt that light rail is the best choice for our city. Those opposite would have you believe that buses are going to be the way we are going to manage population growth of up to half a million people. Not even you believe that, Madam Speaker. You are on the public record saying as much, Madam Speaker.
Mr Coe now wants us to believe that bus rapid transit should be built down Northbourne Avenue. Where is he going to put it? Is he going to bulldoze the median strip and build a two-lane road down the middle of Northbourne Avenue? Is that what he is going to do? Alternatively, is he going to close off a traffic lane in each direction on Northbourne Avenue for his buses? Is that what he going to do? Alternatively again, is he going to do what he tried to do on Adelaide Avenue and Belconnen Way, where cars and buses use the same lane. What I would say to that is that that does not sound a lot different from what we have right now.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, what were the higher social benefits for light rail that you referred to in your media release of 27 July this year, assessed as part of the cost-benefit analysis?
MR CORBELL: “Higher social benefits” refers to a range of factors, including the fact that more people will choose to walk or cycle. We know that the catchment for people choosing to undertake part of their journey by walking or cycling is larger
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