Page 35 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 11 February 2020
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From what I have seen so far, I am confident that all Canberrans will be ready to come together and support those who need a helping hand.
Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.
Sitting suspended from 11.59 am to 2.00 pm.
Questions without notice
Transport Canberra—network 19
MR COE: My question is to the Minister for Transport. I refer to a petition tabled on 4 June 2019 advocating the return of the previous bus network. Over 7,000 people signed the petition, the largest number in this Assembly’s history. Minister, if you respect Canberrans why do you choose to deliberately ignore their wishes?
MR STEEL: I do not.
MR COE: Minister, why was the government too arrogant and too proud to admit that you made a mistake and will you reverse the changes?
MR STEEL: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. Since the introduction of network 19, we have seen 7.1 per cent more journeys taken on public transport. That has been a result of putting on 21 per cent more public transport services throughout the city through the implementation of 10 rapid routes. Something that we have heard from the community is that it is important to be able to provide frequency and encourage more people to use public transport.
We have seen that result, but we have also, from the very beginning, said that we would look at the operation of the new network, we would listen to the community and make changes where necessary. We made 136 tweaks last year, and now we have announced further changes to the public transport network, which will come into effect in term 2. That responds to many of the issues that were raised about network 19, and we hope that, as a result of these changes, even more people will use public transport.
MISS C BURCH: Minister, now that you have conceded to the many failings of the network, will you apologise to the over 7,000 people who signed the petition for creating such a huge inconvenience to their everyday lives and for only choosing to act when an election is on the horizon?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her supplementary question. We make changes every year with the public transport network, responding to the needs of the community. With the largest change to the public transport network for well over a decade or two, this was always going to need to be improved over time. We have looked at the six months of operation of the network. We have looked at the data that has come through the MyWay system. We have heard feedback from the community.
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