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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 12 Hansard (12 November) . . Page.. 4039 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

It is only when you read the recommendations of the Graham report that you begin to realise that Mr Whitecross is making a stand which, in my view, makes him worthy of the political equivalent of the Victoria Cross.

Let us look at some of the recommendations. Graham calls for the implementation of a purchaser-provider model of service. Mr Whitecross wants - no, demands - this, despite the constant criticism by the Labor Party of this model. Andrew has decided to kick sand in the face of Labor solidarity and embrace an idea just because he sees the merit of it. Not for him the straitjacket of caucus. Well done, Andrew! I am right behind you. But there is more. Mr Whitecross supports putting the entire school bus service out to private sector tender. I fear I will soon have to sit down because the audacity of this move, coming from a member of the Labor Left, all but takes my breath away. Mr Whitecross wants the school bus system privatised. That is courage. Here before us is the kind of open-minded and strong politician we want in this place.

But wait, Madam Deputy Speaker, there is more; and it is not steak knives we are selling here, but a fundamental shift in ideology. Mr Whitecross has decided to go for the Transport Workers Union. In supporting the Graham report, he is calling for changes to the current enterprise bargaining agreement, which will see a reduction in work time and conditions. That is the way, Andrew! Let us hop into the hopeless, layabout drivers and the pack of Trots over at the TWU. By the time we are finished with them, they will be humming the Internationale out of a completely different orifice.

I know you want more, Madam Deputy Speaker; and, yes, there is more. While he is about sorting out the union, Mr Whitecross has decided to attack the bludger managers by supporting the Graham call for a revised management structure. Andrew and I both know that any government revision is simply code for job losses. But Andrew is not frightened by a few fat cat managers getting the chop. This new Andrew, this super-Andrew, is a "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" man. Now, we have done the full sweep, Madam Deputy Speaker: Kicked out party policy and savaged the unions and management. But where does a politician still brimful of courage go? Why, he goes to the passengers, of course. Graham calls for the introduction of zone-based fares, that is, the further you are from your destination the more you pay. What a courageous idea, Mr Whitecross!

I was unsure about this one, and I still think I am against it; but the fact that Andrew has thrown his weight behind the idea makes me think again. I would have thought that being a long way from, say, Civic might mean that you were from a poorer group and that you might actually need to use the buses cheaply more than someone who lived nearer their destination. But Mr Whitecross is not bothered by such things, is he? Those lazy losers who want to spend hours lolling around on a bus from Banks to Ngunnawal can damn well pay for the privilege! Is that right, Mr Whitecross?

Mr Whitecross: No, it is not, actually.

MR OSBORNE: If that is not enough, Madam Deputy Speaker - - -

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