Page 3645 - Week 10 - Thursday, 19 September 2019
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To enhance the flowers, to reflect the joyous colours of Floriade and to reference the iconic Rotary gnomes, local Canberra artists, Geoff, Peter and Jenny Filmer were commissioned to make a giant gnome sculpture which would be the centrepiece of the Floriade in the suburbs events. Floyd stands at 2.5 metres tall and he took 500 hours to craft. He has captured people’s imaginations and, indeed, has taken off on social media with his own Instagram account.
The competition to choose his name attracted over 750 entries, some of which inevitably suggested the name Gnomey McGnomeface. However, by far the most popular name suggested was Floyd or Pink Floyd or other variations on a rock theme. Other popular suggestions included Gnorman, Gnomeo and Florence as well as Garry, Gazza, Griffin, Jerome and Walter.
I thank all Canberrans for getting on the Floyd bandwagon. He can be seen around the town for the next month, including at Floriade in the suburbs town centre picnics as well as at the National Arboretum, the Canberra Airport, CMAG, the universities, Garema Place and Lanyon Homestead. He has also already made two interstate visits to regional centres at Wollongong and Albury as part of the promotion of Floriade and was extremely well received in those locations as well.
Transport Canberra—network 19 complaints
MR HANSON: My question is to the Minister for Transport. Minister, I refer to data provided in your incoming minister’s brief that stated that the Transport Canberra call centre received around 4,900 complaints within the first two months of network 19 commencing. Minister, what impact have the changes to the bus network had on the workload of Transport Canberra call centre staff?
MR STEEL: I can come back with some specific numbers, if you like, Mr Hanson, in relation to the workload of staff during that period. But we did expect, with a very significant change to the transport network—the largest since 1999—that there would be a significant number of people who would need to contact Transport Canberra either for information or to make complaints or indeed to provide bouquets for some of the services that we are providing with the new network, with more frequent services more often. I expect that there would have been quite a workload during the immediate period, but I understand that that has now levelled off, as the new network becomes embedded.
MR HANSON: How many bouquets were received by call centre staff, and what training have staff had for any abuse or other verbally unacceptable behaviour that occurs when they are receiving calls?
MR STEEL: I am happy to come back with those specific details. I believe they were provided, actually. I will have to check and see whether we can provide those numbers again for the opposition if they have not already seen the numbers.
MISS C BURCH: Minister, how many call centre staff have taken stress or personal leave due to the public reaction caused by changes to network 19?
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