Page 1698 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 15 May 2019
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We have consistently worked to do that and to deliver that in the face of opposition from the government. So forgive me; we are at the eleventh hour and the minister—I will use this term—folds like a pack of cards on this issue. But I am a little sceptical. Call me a hard-bitten old politician. That is what I am. I have seen ministers in this place come and go. I have seen this minister make commitments that she has not kept.
I am going to keep this minister to this commitment. If that is politicising the issue, I am guilty. That is what I do for my constituents. My constituents, and Mrs Jones’s constituents and Mrs Lawder’s constituents, consistently have been telling us that this is what they want. We have delivered this today. It was a little easier than I thought it was going to be. I actually was not very hopeful of the outcome. It has been easier than I hoped it would be. I thank the minister for that. But I put the minister on warning: we are watching and we will make sure that she delivers.
Original question, as amended, resolved in the affirmative.
Sitting suspended from 12.11 to 2.00 pm.
Questions without notice
ACTION bus service—weekend services
MR COE: I have a question for the Minister for Transport. I refer to a Canberra Times article dated 8 May titled “Weekend buses cancelled after volunteer shortage”. The article stated that nearly 150 weekend bus services were cancelled due to driver shortages. Minister, why did you promise extra weekend services but fail to secure enough drivers for these routes?
MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Mr Coe for the question. As Mr Coe well knows, the arrangements that have been in place for some time regarding weekend services remain. It is the case that there are enough drivers. There were not enough volunteering on that weekend. But we are in very close discussions with bus drivers and with the TWU, their representatives, on how we can secure drivers for all the weekend bus services. I note that that was four per cent of services.
Transport Canberra works very carefully on these matters. On any given day there may be a variety of reasons why tweaks needs to be made to services but certainly on the first weekend of the new network, I think, the weekend bus services performed very well and, indeed, patronage on the weekend services was extremely high.
MR COE: Minister, what weekend loadings are currently in place and what changes will you have to make to encourage more drivers to take up these services?
MS FITZHARRIS: There are full-time, part-time and casual employees who work for Transport Canberra driving buses. There is a composite rate but I will take the specifics on notice and provide further advice to the Assembly.
MISS C BURCH: Minister, can you guarantee that this weekend’s bus services will be fully staffed and delivered?
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