Page 4688 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 7 December 1994
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The weight of the bin, the weight of materials, the time it takes to lift the hoist and so on vary. On that basis, looking at the trials, it was established that there would be an appropriate daily average requirement of garbage for this type of system, taking into account the type of service that we have introduced, this magnificent total waste collection system, the one that even your members, Mr Kaine - outside this chamber, admittedly - have been congratulating the Government for implementing.
I understand that, in an attempt to take the gloss off this great advance in waste collection that this Government has introduced, you would attempt to denigrate the operators of the system who are now taking a longer period than the 10 hours to complete all of the requirements. But that is exactly the same situation as applied in Brisbane when this system, or a not dissimilar system, was introduced in that city. It is similar to the situation that applied in Queanbeyan where the system was introduced. It does take time for the operators to get up to speed to ensure that that daily average requirement of garbage is able to be collected in the prescribed number of hours. I am confident that, in a very short period of time, the experience of those drivers will increase to ensure that the 1,500 over a 10-hour shift is able to be achieved. Do you have a supplementary question, Mr Kaine?
MR KAINE: Yes, I have a supplementary question. Madam Speaker, I preface it by the comment that this Government has no peer in producing garbage. Mr Lamont makes much of the fact that this is the best garbage collection system in the world and that he does expect each driver to pick up 1,500 bins in each 10-hour shift, which is a greater workload than is expected of anybody else in the country. Minister, is it true that it is taking some operators as long as 16 hours to complete their darg - to use your word? If this is true, will you table the tender document that commits operators to working that many hours a day to make your system the best garbage collection system in the world?
MR LAMONT: No. In fact, Mr Kaine, I thank you again for the opportunity to sing the praises of the comprehensive waste recycling system that this Labor Government has introduced. The simple fact is that the contract provides for a stipulated pick-up per day. In relation to the hours of operation, the contractor is expected to be able to complete that within a prescribed period. However, it is obvious that there will be no additional cost impost upon the ACT Government. As far as I am advised, there would not be any additional cost because it took 14 hours, say, instead of 10. That cost is borne by the contractor and not by the ACT Government. There is a contract price per pick-up for that. With my background in the transport industry, which you would recall, Mr Kaine, I have always been extremely concerned about the numbers of hours that may - - -
Mr Kaine: It sounds like it! You are making them work 14 or 16 hours a day. You are really concerned, obviously! Delete that, and now give us the right answer.
Mr Cornwell: It is funny what happens when you change your hat, is it not?
MR LAMONT: No. It basically says, "Keep it up. They look like nongs". With that reasonable daily average requirement of garbage that has been negotiated to be picked up, the contractor is required to meet his contract obligations. As far as the employees are concerned, I understand that there has been an enterprise agreement negotiated in relation to - - -
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