Page 4024 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 17 November 2015
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a very good service. So part of our job is to break some of that negative cycle regarding the commentary about the bus service and encourage people to use it more frequently.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, why has there been a decrease in ACTION boardings each year you have been the minister?
MR RATTENBURY: As I said, ACTION has continued to provide an improved service. Clearly some people are choosing to take other options. Some of them are driving; some people will be taking up active travel options. Our job is to keep improving the service and making it an attractive alternative to other options.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Lawder.
MS LAWDER: Minister, what effect has poor ACTION patronage had on increasing congestion?
MR RATTENBURY: There has been no specific analysis done about it. Ms Lawder in her question clearly is surmising certain theories on her part. I think it would be fair to say that obviously more people catching buses means that there are fewer people potentially on the roads taking their private vehicle. That is part of the reason the government is actively working to improve public transport options and make them more attractive to Canberrans so that we can tackle emerging issues of congestion in this city.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Lawder.
MS LAWDER: Minister, is there general satisfaction with the intertown bus service?
MR RATTENBURY: We do undertake satisfaction surveys of the ACTION service. I can inform the Assembly that in the past year that satisfaction rating has gone up from 67 to 75 per cent. Despite the suggestions coming from across the chamber, Canberrans are more satisfied with the ACTION service. As I said in my earlier remarks, there are some challenges because seemingly every other person in this town wants to have a go at running the ACTION bus service down. There are some perception difficulties—
Opposition members interjecting—
Dr Bourke: On a point of order, Madam Speaker, the continuous interjections from the opposition are interrupting Mr Rattenbury, which is unparliamentary.
MADAM SPEAKER: I ask members of the opposition to be a little more restrained in their interjections. It is harder for Mr Rattenbury at the other end of the chamber to deal with that than for those people who are closer. On the supplementary question, Mr Rattenbury.
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