Page 2726 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 20 October 1992
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I resent the implications, in the question about the Under Treasurer's selection panel and, of course, the Secretary of Education and Training's selection panel, that all the other members of that panel could be influenced in some way by one member. This is a bit of a slight on some very prominent people, Madam Speaker. I would again like to contrast our merit selection process with Mr Kaine's selection process. He simply plucked a name out of the air, it appeared, and appointed that person, without advertising, without, as far as I am aware, Madam Speaker, any sort of a merit selection process - and he thinks that is not a political action. What a load of nonsense!
I think members opposite are guilty of great hypocrisy on this matter. As I say, they are attempting to bring into disrepute some very eminent members of the community - not just this community, but interstate as well - who have served on selection panels. If people are to be subjected to this kind of smear, Madam Speaker, then I would have to ask how we can go on inviting people to join in these merit selection processes when members opposite seem to think that one other member can bring their entire process undone. It is purely nonsense.
Bus Passes for Schoolchildren
MS SZUTY: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for Housing and Community Services, Mr Connolly. Recently officers from the Housing and Community Services Bureau advised parents of schoolchildren that new criteria would apply to the provision of free bus passes. Under the new guidelines primary schoolchildren who live less than a kilometre from school and high school children who live less than two kilometres from school will no longer be eligible for free travel unless there are particular difficulties. Can the Minister inform the Assembly as to what would constitute particular difficulties?
MR CONNOLLY: I thank Ms Szuty for her question. The provision of free travel for persons in the community attending school is an issue which obviously affects the ACT revenue, and during the budget deliberations this year we decided to introduce some criteria to provide other than open slather. We were aware that there were situations where children who, for example, lived opposite a school were being issued free bus passes when they simply had to cross the road to go to school. Clearly, they were not using that bus pass to travel to and from school; they were using that bus pass for other reasons. As there is a real cost in providing school bus travel, our attempt was to focus that government contribution to those in need.
In New South Wales and Queensland free bus travel is provided on a 1.6-kilometre for primary school or 3.2-kilometre for high school basis. We have a one-kilometre or two-kilometre basis. In Western Australia and Victoria there is no free bus travel at all. So, we are still generous by Australian standards. Letters were sent on 6 August 1992 to all of the applicants for free bus travel, advising them of this distance criterion. We have introduced that from the fourth school term. There have been some representations from people who fall within the one- or two-kilometre basis for special treatment. The policy that is being applied within the department is that we will look at every application on its merits.
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