Page 1689 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 9 May 2018

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(b) the last bus services on weeknights leave Civic for Belconnen at 11.45 pm, for Gungahlin at 11.00 pm, and for Woden and Tuggeranong at 10.43 pm;

(c) the last bus services on Sunday and public holiday nights leave Civic for Belconnen at 7.46 pm, for Gungahlin at 6.59 pm, and for Woden and Tuggeranong at 7.26 pm;

(d) the last train services arrive at Kingston at 10.03 pm on weekdays and 9.43 pm on weekends and public holidays;

(e) interstate travellers often rely on family, friends, or on-demand transport services if bus services are not available;

(f) the ACT Government has committed to delivering a better seven-day bus network as part of building an integrated public transport network for Canberra, including introducing light rail;

(g) this new integrated public transport network will add five new Rapid routes to the four current Rapids, which will operate seven days a week and continue into the late evening; and

(h) the ACT Government undertook phase one of public consultation in 2017 on the new bus network and will soon commence phase two of this extensive public consultation, which will help shape Canberra’s future public transport network; and

(3) calls on the Minister for Transport and City Services to report to the Assembly by Thursday, 23 August 2018 on:

(a) plans to extend bus services in the evenings;

(b) plans to extend bus services on Sundays and public holidays; and

I particularly note the clarification in this amendment about the times that existing bus services are available, which was not correct in the original motion that was circulated. Also, I look forward to reporting in August on how the government is proposing to extend bus services in the evenings, on Sundays and on public holidays, and on our plans to encourage more Canberrans to use public transport.

I particularly note efforts the government is already making to increase access to public transport, particularly for low income Canberrans. I note that free off-peak travel for those on concession cards has been an incredibly popular and well-used service from the ACT government. I am very pleased to have reports from people throughout our community about how much they are valuing this ready access to free public transport right across our territory in off-peak times, including noting that that includes in the evenings, which was the subject of the original motion.

We also look forward to the new network providing more frequent services more often and providing more rapid routes. I particularly note that this will increase access for low income Canberrans and those potentially facing disadvantage in our community. It is a core principle of a Labor government and one that we are keen to pursue through a more integrated, more frequent public transport network.

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