Page 45 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 11 February 2020
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as a result of us wanting to put on more bus services, which we did in the network 19 changes. We will continue to make improvements, working with those school communities, to make sure that students can get around quickly and efficiently.
MRS JONES: Minister, will you continue to deny the concerns parents like me have about children like mine who have special needs spending time in bus interchanges?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her question. We will continue to work with school students, their parents and representatives on improvements. The customer service officers, who have been welcomed by the community, are available at our interchanges, and can be used by everyone, including those who need extra support for where they need to go. Of course, we have special needs transport, which is currently being run by Qcity through this year, through a new change in contract.
Mr Coe: It has been privatised. It has been outsourced.
MR STEEL: It has been for a very long time. We know what your plan is. That is not our plan.
MISS C BURCH: Minister, when will you apologise to parents for ignoring their concerns about their children’s safety, and to the school children themselves for making their safety an election issue?
MR STEEL: Again we see dog-whistling from the Canberra Liberals on student safety. We see students using public transport and being supported in their use of public transport.
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Members! The member will resume his seat. Mr Coe and Mrs Dunne, I know it is a bit exciting to have our first day back in 2020, but please! Minister Steel, I see that you have concluded.
Bushfires—preparedness
MR GUPTA: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Minister, how has the ACT government prepared for the threat of bushfires since 2003?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Gupta for this very important question. The ACT government has taken significant steps over the past 17 years to ensure that the lessons learned from the 2003 Canberra bushfires have been applied across our emergency services. These lessons continue to shape how we prepare for and respond to bushfires in the ACT. The ACT government, the ESA and the community have been proactive in implementing plans and increased protection measures against bushfires and we are more prepared than ever in 2020.
Under the Emergencies Act 2004, the ESA has successfully delivered four strategic bushfire management plans, reflecting significant improvements in bushfire
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