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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 2 Hansard (20 May) . . Page.. 406 ..

Mr Humphries: There is a convention about not quoting from documents.

Mr Berry: No; I am not demanding it. I am asking whether the Chief Minister will table that document.

MR SPEAKER: It is up to the Chief Minister.

Mr Humphries: All right; that is a fair question, I suppose.

MS CARNELL: I will have to think about it, Mr Speaker.

I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, on Tuesday, 28 April this year, Ms Tucker asked a question regarding the trial of natural gas vehicles in the Government's passenger and light commercial fleet managed by Totalcare. I have been provided with an answer by Totalcare, and I will read that into the record.

The trial of natural gas vehicles commenced in the Government's passenger and light commercial fleet in June 1994. The costs of converting the vehicles to natural gas have been met by the Energy Research and Development Trust, while tanks and conversion kits were provided by AGL. There are only modest savings in the use of natural gas when compared to petrol; for example, the savings in fuel have been only $3,544 for the five city rangers' utility vehicles in 1996-97 - an average of about $700 per vehicle before conversion costs. However, there are some difficulties in expanding the trial beyond its present size. Fuel is available only at the one site in Fyshwick, and travel times can be excessive to return vehicles for refill, particularly if they are operating in the more distant areas of the ACT. This can cause productivity losses and increased fuel utilisation. Consequently, there have been some difficulties in the switch-over to natural gas. Growth in natural gas vehicles in both public and private fleets will occur only when additional fuelling sites in convenient locations are available.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer): Mr Speaker, I table that memo, for the interest of members.

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