Page 2844 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 22 November 1989
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Rail Services
MS MAHER: My question is directed to the Minister for Housing and Urban Services. I refer to an article in today's Canberra Times which refers to the New South Wales State Rail Authority's decision to terminate the XPT service between Sydney and the ACT. Also, I believe that the rail tankers carrying fuel to the ACT will be terminated. Does the Minister intend to take up the matter with the New South Wales State Government, especially in light of the forthcoming talks on a government-to-government basis, as the termination of these services will increase the hazards on our roads due to the increase in the number of fuel tanker trucks and buses required to compensate for these services.
MRS GRASSBY: Following the announcement by the State Rail Authority of New South Wales about the cessation of the XPT service on 10 February 1990, it is, unfortunately, open to the New South Wales Government to consider reducing any of its rail services. When the Commonwealth Government handed over responsibility to the State Rail Authority there was an agreement that there would be two rail services a day to the ACT. When I met with Mr Baird he told me that the SRA intended to keep to that agreement. We will have two rail services up until the XPT ceases. It is difficult to see how we will have two rail services after that. I have heard a whisper from a union that the SRA is going to take our freight services off also. We will then have between 40 and 50 petrol tankers on the road between Sydney and Canberra each week.. I understand the mayor of Goulburn has also expressed concern, as he says there will be something like 100 heavy trucks carrying fuel on the highway.
The way that the New South Wales Government is going with its fire sale - selling off banks and everything else - I would not be a bit surprised at what we might lose next. I have warned my fire department that it could have a lot more business as a result of there being 100 oil tankers on the road each week. Unfortunately, there is very little we can do about it, but the Chief Minister will be seeing Mr Greiner on Friday and I have asked her to speak to him about the worrying fact that we could have 100 oil tankers a week on the road.
Master Builders Association
MR JENSEN: My question is directed to Mr Whalan, the Minister for Industry, Employment and Education. In the ACT Gazette of 25 October, there appeared information that the Office of Industry and Development, land development branch, had arranged for a 1989-90 subscription to the Master Builders Association of the ACT. Can the Minister advise what benefits the Office of Industry and Development receives from its $2,000 expenditure on that subscription?
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