Page 2627 - Week 08 - Thursday, 14 August 2014
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I will turn now to another area of TAMS expenditure, and that is, of course, ACTION. Every year I come into this place during the estimates deliberation and reflect on the accountability indicators in the budget with regard to ACTION. It seems that the indicators are going in the wrong direction. It seems that we are getting worse and worse when it comes to the provision of public transport services in the ACT. (Second speaking period taken.)
It is interesting that, in the two years or so that Mr Rattenbury has been responsible for the provision of ACTION buses, the vast majority of indicators, if not all, have indeed deteriorated. What is particularly interesting was the fact that ACTION passenger boardings were significantly lower than was estimated as the target for 2013-14. Further to this, we have seen an increase in the operating cost per kilometre. What is more, we are seeing a predicted increase of well over 10 per cent in the total network operating cost per network kilometre, up to $5.10. Now, I wonder whether that figure, Madam Assistant Speaker, includes the repeal of the carbon tax and the impact that that is likely to have on ACTION. I doubt that it does. It will be interesting to see whether TAMS could indeed update that. I recall submitting a question some time ago about the cost of the carbon tax to ACTION and I recall it being in the vicinity of $500,000. If it is indeed $500,000 as that question on notice advised me, I believe, I hope—
Mr Barr interjecting—
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Barr, do you have a point of order that you would like to make through the chair?
Mr Barr: No.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: It is not really a place for conversation, thank you.
MR COE: Coincidentally it might have been the only time that the Treasurer has actually value-added in this chamber. But, alas, that one time you got slapped down. It is a shame. It is a tremendous shame that that opportunity came knocking and was left unanswered. Anyway, we will fight on.
This year the government subsidy fraction is up to $118 million, up $7 million from last year. I believe that we do need to get a better return on investment for $118 million. I know Mr Rattenbury is going to say, “It is not a subsidy; it is an investment; there is no public transport system in the world that runs at a profit,” et cetera. That may well all be true, but the fact is that we should be getting better value for money for the $118 million. I hope even Mr Rattenbury—even Mr Barr, on this charitable day of his—might also agree that the return on investment may indeed be better than we are currently getting.
Unsurprisingly, ACTION has again failed to achieve its accountability indicators. This year the number of passenger boardings fell 600,000 short of ACTION’s target. In fact, it appears that patronage has actually dropped by approximately 250,000
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