Page 3229 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 23 August 2017
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MR BARR: We have been actively engaging in all areas of transport policy and are particularly focused on practical outcomes for the city. In partnership with Canberra Airport we have boosted flights into Canberra from low cost carriers and international carriers. I recently met with the New South Wales transport minister, Andrew Constance, and discussed a number of regional transport issues, not the least of which is the improved rail service between Canberra and Sydney. An upgrade to the rail corridor, including the introduction of tilt train capability, would be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve transport between the two cities.
We will continue to focus on freight opportunities. It was fantastic to see the first major export for freight from Canberra Airport on the Singapore Airlines flights last month. The government committed $7.3 million over four years from 2016-17 to support aviation partnerships, and we will continue our work with domestic and international carriers to increase both the frequency of services to and from Canberra Airport and also the range of destinations, with a particular focus on the low cost carrier market.
MR STEEL: Chief Minister, what are some recent improvements to transport connectivity?
MR BARR: As I mentioned, Qatar Airways will start a service out of Canberra Airport, a daily service, from February next year. We are focusing also on low-cost carriers and on the regional market, too. It is worth noting that Pelican Airlines have further extended their regional transport network utilising Canberra Airport as a major hub. That feeds more passengers into the international and major city services that Canberra Airport currently offers.
We are working with our local government partners in regional New South Wales on a number of road transport priorities, not the least of which is the duplication of the Barton Highway which, I note, was an election commitment from both sides of politics at the last federal election. It is a key piece in Canberra’s regional freight network.
We look forward to further collaboration with the New South Wales and federal governments on regional road transport priorities but with a particular emphasis on rail corridors; and the opportunity for the Canberra-Sydney rail corridor to be improved clearly is a priority for us and for the surrounding local government areas along that rail corridor.
Crime—statistics
MRS JONES: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Minister, I refer to the latest crime statistics released by the Australian Federal Police. In their statistics it was revealed that over the past five financial years assault has increased by approximately 30.8 per cent, robbery is up approximately 25.5 per cent, motor vehicle theft by approximately 45.6 per cent, and other offences by 21.9 per cent. In the same crime statistics, it was revealed that offences against the person had increased by approximately 302.4 per cent. These increases in crime are well above the increase in Canberra’s—
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