Page 966 - Week 04 - Thursday, 7 May 2020
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
also published guidelines around what measures might be appropriate as we see more people using public transport.
MS LE COUTEUR: Minister, if health fears cause more people to drive and fewer of us to use public transport once restrictions lift, there will, of course, be massive traffic congestion and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. What is the government doing to avoid these problems?
MR STEEL: I thank Ms Le Couteur for her question. Yes, that would be a very bad outcome if we saw people, over the long term, move to cars and stay away from public transport. We will be looking at what measures we can take to welcome people back, at an appropriate time and when it is safe to do so. Obviously, for the time being, we are encouraging Canberrans to reassess their need to travel on public transport and those who are sick definitely not to use public transport at all. Of course, we encourage people to download the COVIDSafe app—everyone in the community but particularly those who are using public transport.
We will, at an appropriate time, need to welcome people back onto public transport and promote its use. That will be part of our plan for the recovery and how we can encourage the community and make sure that they are reassured that it is safe to use and that the measures that we have in place are those that are supported by the best medical advice.
Canberra Institute of Technology—COVID-19
MS LEE: My question is to the Minister for Tertiary Education. Minister, a casual teacher of 3½ years at CIT was told that his services were no longer required as a result of the COVID crisis. Can you confirm that some casual teachers have lost their jobs since the COVID crisis started?
MR STEEL: I thank Ms Lee for her question. I will take that question on notice. We saw CIT recommence their term on 28 April, as per the school term. Students are continuing to engage in learning, be it in a slightly different format than usual, with theory starting first and practical elements pushed towards the back of the term. Obviously, that aids the process of doing some online learning during this time. I will come back to the Assembly with some further detail in relation to the employment matters.
MS LEE: Minister, in what circumstances would a CIT staff member have been told in the last two months that they are no longer required?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her question. I am happy to follow up and come back in relation to that, on notice.
MR WALL: Minister, what courses have ceased at CIT since the COVID-19 crisis began, and have all such courses recommenced?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for his question. There have been a range of different challenges for the vocational education and training system during this
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video