Page 91 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 16 February 1993

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MINISTER FOR URBAN SERVICES

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NO 483

ACTION - Cost Reductions

Mr Westende - asked the Minister for Urban Services:

(1) In view of the revelations recently about the huge overspend on overtime for ACTION bus drivers what action has the Minister taken to ensure that there will be no further excesses in overtime.

(2) Will ACTION be providing counselling services to drivers who are reported to be suffering from low morale due to the Governments supposed action to reduce costs and will the Government remain firm in its resolve to continue its program of cost reductions with ACTION buses.

Mr Connolly - the answer to the Members question is as follows:

(1) There has been no huge overspend in overtime for ACTION bus drivers. ACTION is expected to come in on budget for the 1992/93 year.

(2) The Government does not accept that there is low morale in ACTION. We have approached these necessary reductions in ACTIONs subsidy in a consultative manner. As part of this process ACTION has hired an Industrial Relations facilitator jointly chosen by union and management. This facilitator is assisting unions and management in identifying areas where savings can be made.

The Government recognises that in any large organisation like ACTION, staff and their families may have problems they need to discuss. To this end ACTION has for several years provided all employees and their families free access to professional counselling through the Employee Assistance Service ACT Limited

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