Page 4164 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 23 October 1991

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Rail Service

MR CONNOLLY: In question time today Mr Duby asked a question about proposals to alter the rail service to Queanbeyan. I undertook to provide additional information on that. I have checked with my departmental officers. They were given an undertaking by the secretary of the New South Wales Ministry of Transport as late as last week that the ACT Government would be advised before any decision to change the services was made. No such advice has been received.

We have attempted today to contact the secretary of the New South Wales Transport Ministry. Unfortunately, due to the industrial problems in New South Wales, provoked by the industrial laws that Mr Humphries is now embracing, it is not possible to contact anyone in the New South Wales Transport Ministry. But, as we are presently advised, there is no change of plan. An undertaking has been given by the secretary of the New South Wales Ministry of Transport to advise my officers if there is to be a change. We have not received any such advice.

MR DUBY: I have a supplementary question as a result of that response.

MR SPEAKER: Order! It is a Minister's reply. You must seek leave if you wish to make any comment, Mr Duby.

MR DUBY: It is a question. I am perfectly entitled to ask a supplementary question, surely.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Duby, question time has concluded.

MR DUBY: I seek leave to ask a supplementary question.

Leave granted.

MR DUBY: Mr Connolly was suitably chastened yesterday, and he was trying to be very helpful in question time today. I think that should be appreciated and acted upon. Given the fact that basically Mr Connolly is responsible, if he did not know, would he also be able to assure the Assembly on a future occasion that the new Explorer train services, which New South Wales Minister Baird announced in March of this year in Queanbeyan would be commencing in 1992, will definitely be commencing in 1992, and that there will be no delay and no hold-up whatsoever to commuter train services between Sydney and Canberra?

MR CONNOLLY: I have given the answer. We have been given an assurance by the secretary of the New South Wales Ministry of Transport that should there be any change to the existing policies, announced policies, we will be informed. We have not been so informed.


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