Page 4160 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 23 October 1991
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Rail Service
MR DUBY: My question is directed to Mr Connolly, the Minister for transport. Mr Connolly, my office has been approached by a constituent who is an employee of the New South Wales State Rail Authority. This constituent informs me that he has been advised that the rail service to Canberra is to cease in February next year and be replaced by a Countrylink bus service of seven or eight buses per day. Can the Minister either confirm or deny that information that the New South Wales State Rail Authority will cease all passenger train services to Canberra in February of next year and replace such services with a further expansion of the Countrylink bus services?
MR CONNOLLY: I am confident that by February of next year the Carr Labor Government will undertake a total review of the cutbacks to the rural train service in New South Wales that the Greiner Government - the model of hacking and slashing that was the inspiration of the former Alliance - has implemented. I am not aware, Mr Duby, of any more concrete, specific plans by that current short-lived, infamous Greiner Government to cut back further on services to the ACT; but I will certainly investigate that and advise you more fully as soon as possible.
National Crime Authority Legislation
MR COLLAERY: My question is directed to Mr Connolly in his role as Attorney-General. Mr Connolly, this morning on ABC radio you were quoted as saying, among other things, these words:
There is question time and a very important Bill relating to the National Crime Authority was adjourned last night and that may come up again ... today.
I ask you, Mr Connolly: Did you instruct any official of your department, or any responsible official, to have that Bill listed for debate this afternoon; and, if not, as I am confident that you did not, did you not again shoot off your mouth without knowing the facts of the matter?
MR CONNOLLY: This strange member was obsessive yesterday that I should be away from Canberra today. We can see the reasons for that. One was that he hoped that my absence would help the numbers on that extraordinary Bill this morning.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Connolly, relevance please.
Mr Collaery: Answer the question.
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