Page 199 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 14 February 2018
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want to go, the government is preoccupied with spending $22,000 decorating our buses with rainbows.
How is that encouraging more Canberrans to use public transport? How is that helping elderly and mobility-impaired Canberrans to get around our city? How is that reducing commuting times and traffic congestion? Public transport is a lifeline for so many people. As an essential basic service of local government, public transport should be accessible to all Canberrans. The government’s changes to the ACTION network, the lack of community consultation and the lack of communication on this issue have adversely impacted many Canberrans, and this government owes them an explanation.
MR MILLIGAN (Yerrabi) (5.09): I thank Ms Lee for bringing forward this important motion concerning public transport, specifically the lack of adequate bus services in Canberra. In yet another display of arrogance and total disregard for the needs of the Canberra community, the ACT government has dramatically changed the bus service available to numerous areas of our community without consultation or consideration of users. Not only has Moncrief been excluded from the current network, but there is a lack of planning to accommodate current residents in Casey and Jacka. This does not bode well for future residents in Taylor and Throsby. Add to this an inadequate network in neighbouring suburbs.
I have been contacted by numerous constituents who have raised concerns about the timetable changes and the real impact this has had on people’s lives and on public transport. Simply put, the Labor-Greens government has made the system much worse through its latest round of changes. Rather than working on a single direct bus service, the new network forces more transfers and has an extended travel time for many Canberra residents. It seems unlikely that these issues will be addressed by the ACT government until changes surrounding light rail become operational. Even here, I have little confidence in their ability to deliver timely and convenient services.
I believe that residents of newly developed areas and suburbs in the ACT deserve adequate services and amenities with appropriate infrastructure provided at an early stage. Given the rates and taxes Canberrans pay, is it not reasonable to expect that adequate transport and urban planning mechanisms are put in place? It is our view on this side of the chamber that Canberran residents deserve better.
Gungahlin is the fastest growing district in Canberra and the second fastest growing region in Australia. It is clear that, based on current performance, the residents of Yerrabi will continue to receive substandard transport services and planning from this government. I have spoken with numerous residents of Gungahlin who live in suburbs without adequate bus networks. These residents have explained how difficult it is to do normal, everyday things. School-age children are being forced to walk unfair distances across major roads and through overgrown reserves. But once they arrive at the few bus stops available to them, the buses are packed and can make travel very uncomfortable.
I also feel the need to point out to the government, just in case they have overlooked it, that Gungahlin residents are some of the hardest working members of our community;
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