Page 475 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 18 February 2015
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care—for the second year in a row. That all goes to quality of care in our hospital system, and I am very pleased to see those improvements being made, a direct result of both the investments the government has made through the budget and the very hard work of our medical staff, of our nursing staff and of our allied health staff.
Transport—light rail
MR COE: My question is to the Minister for Capital Metro. Minister, your government has to date spent over $300,000 promoting light rail. This has included, amongst other things, purchasing a large cardboard tram, making over 40 YouTube videos and producing novelty items such as a toy bullet train and water bottles. A contractor will also be paid to develop a 12-month calendar of strategic communication. Minister, why was this whole campaign not reviewed by the campaign advertising reviewer?
MR CORBELL: The individual elements of the program that have gone over the threshold set out in legislation have been reviewed by the campaign reviewer.
Mr Coe: The whole campaign?
MR CORBELL: It is not one campaign. It is wrong to characterise it as that. All expenditure that triggers the requirements of the campaign reviewer legislation has been referred to the campaign reviewer and the campaign reviewer has signed off on any elements that trigger his oversight in relation to these matters.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, why is the spending on this campaign necessary if the decision has already been taken and the trams will not be operational for five more years?
MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Coe for his supplementary. I do not know whether Mr Coe has noticed, but what the government is doing is consulting with the community about key design elements for this project. We are talking to them about landscape issues, station design issues, frequency, access for cycling, access for pedestrians, access for people who are disabled. We are talking with them about route alignment; we are talking with them about station design. These are all legitimate issues for a very large and significant capital works infrastructure project. Indeed, I would have to say that if the government was not doing that, I am sure Mr Coe and his colleagues would be criticising the government for not consulting with the community.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, has capital metro commissioned any polling or market research this financial year or are there any plans to do so?
MR CORBELL: Capital metro certainly undertakes surveys of the community in relation to people’s views about the project and about some of the key issues that the government is having to address in terms of design and delivery of this important capital works project. In terms of the details, I will take the question on notice and provide an answer to the member.
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