Page 826 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 20 March 2019
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MISS C BURCH: Minister, what have you done following these traumatic incidents to address public safety concerns around light rail?
MS FITZHARRIS: I would say that on such a significant project, of course, there has been a lot of community discussion. That is exactly why we have a very robust safety framework in place and a nationally robust safety framework, which Canberra Metro must comply with through ONRSR, to be able to make sure that the system is operational. As minister, I have requested and received assurance that all those processes are being followed.
You will have seen increased awareness raising, principally because of the incidents, and people taking more care around the light rail corridor, which is something that I began a campaign on over a year ago. We have further campaigns to roll out as we get closer to operations. Clearly, there is a focus along the parts of the corridor where light rail has only just commenced testing, that is, the southern end of the corridor along the Federal Highway and Northbourne Avenue.
There is sufficient and adequate signage onsite. More recently, members of the community would have seen customer service operators on those busiest pedestrian intersections, particularly at peak hour, guiding pedestrians across the intersections.
ACT Policing—body cameras
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. While the Greens support the recent announcement that police officers will be equipped with body cameras which will start recording when they draw their Glock or taser, I have a question. Will police officers have the ability to turn on their cameras other than when drawing their Glock or their taser, as I understand is the case in other jurisdictions?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Le Couteur for the question. I do have quite a bit of detail on the way that these operations work but not immediate detail as to whether they can separately turn on the body-worn cameras. They are activated on the drawing of a firearm or taser and they are buffered before and after any drawing occurs. But that particular detail I would have to take on notice.
MS LE COUTEUR: I fear that this may also be taken on notice, but if the technology is available for cameras to be turned on in other instances—and I understand this is used in other jurisdictions—why are ACT police officers not equipped with this technology, and can it be used specifically for prosecutions in domestic and family violence?
MR GENTLEMAN: I will take that part on notice, too.
Light rail—safety
MISS C BURCH: My question is to the Minister for Transport. I refer to the government’s “Are you rail ready?” online quiz as a component of the rail safety
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