Page 1067 - Week 06 - Thursday, 27 July 1989
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Rail Passes for Senior Citizens
DR KINLOCH: My question is directed to the Chief Minister. There may be an element in this question which is somewhat out of date given the problem of trains. However, we understand that all New South Wales citizens over the age of 60 - and that is, of course, mere youth - are eligible to a travel concession pass which entitles them to half-price train travel not only in New South Wales but into and out of the ACT. Could the Chief Minister consider whether there could be a similar arrangement in place for ACT senior citizens from age 60 onwards to enjoy the same privilege?
MS FOLLETT: That is a matter that has been brought to my attention by some correspondence. I am aware, of course, that there is some differential treatment of people over that age in the ACT and in the surrounding district. In fact, the ACT older citizen does not enjoy all of the advantages that some of them do in other States, but there is a problem here of the ACT reciprocating for visitors from other States.
If we were to give rail passes for people over that age in the ACT, they would then do the vast majority of their travel outside of the ACT, needless to say if they were lucky enough to be able to catch a train out of the ACT in the foreseeable future, which seems to be a dwindling hope. There is, as I say, then the problem of a reciprocal arrangement for people from New South Wales, Victoria or wherever wanting to also use that travel concession within the ACT.
I think that is quite a large area that requires some consideration by our transport experts. They are giving it that kind of consideration at the moment and, as I announced in the budget statement the other day, the Government is considering the whole area of concessions in general with a view to coming up with some amendments in that area. So it is a matter that is under consideration but it is not one that can be resolved overnight.
Tuggeranong Community Council
MR STEFANIAK: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Deputy Chief Minister and I refer him to his comments in the Tuggeranong Valley View on 26 July. Briefly, the start of the article states:
Tuggeranong Community Council has been told to keep out of the ACT Government's police powers issue. Deputy Chief Minister Paul Whalan hit out at the council's decision to become involved in the police move-on powers debate. "I am disappointed that the Tuggeranong Community Council has sought to intervene in the debate".
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