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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (9 May) . . Page.. 1303 ..
MR SMYTH (continuing):
Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, this government is committed to providing effective, efficient and accessible public transport for Canberrans. In recognition of the important role of public transport in the community, the government contributes significant funds to maintain ACTION's current level of service, particularly non-commercial services and fare concessions. The draft budget tabled in the Assembly provided $4â million in additional funding for ACTION this year. The budget to be tabled later this month also makes provision for increased funding for ACTION.
The commission's inquiry and report help to ensure that the government is accountable and the processes it uses to support and regulate ACTION services are transparent. This accountability comes, in part, from the very nature of the commission's inquiry process, with its important element of broad community consultation into ACTION's services and its subsequent analysis of information.
The commission's consultation and review period of several months ensured that a large cross-section of the community could express their views about ACTION's services. The commission's processes involved several steps over the period of the investigation. The commission released the draft price direction in December 1999, took submissions, and then conducted a public hearing on 15 February 2000. The final price direction was released in March 2000.
The commission's directions and recommendations provide the government with an assessment of ACTION's current strategies and performance. The commission's recommendations are being examined and will be taken into consideration when formulating new fares. The new fare structure will be submitted to the commission for approval prior to the government releasing the revised fares. The new fare structure will commence on 1 July 2000.
Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, I am also pleased to advise that a further survey will be undertaken to assess community satisfaction with ACTION's services. This will build on the base data provided in the 1999 survey. These surveys, an analysis of patronage data will assist the commission in its future determinations. The government welcomes the commissioner's price directions and looks forward to future determinations and associated recommendations concerning the costs and funding of ACTION's services.
I commend the commission's 2000-2001 price direction for ACTION bus fares to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services) (4.07): Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, for the information of members I present the government's response to the Commissioner for the Environment's review of the no waste by 2010 waste management strategy for the ACT, which was presented to the Assembly on 15 February 2000. I ask for leave to make a short statement in relation to this report.
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