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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 9 Hansard (7 September) . . Page.. 2992 ..
MR HUMPHRIES: I understand what Ms Tucker is saying. I will take the issue on notice. You will be aware from the question Mr Quinlan asked of the Chief Minister yesterday about the Business Gateway operations of the ACT government that sometimes we let contracts for private sector operators-in this case, I think it was the Canberra Business Council or the Chamber of Commerce-to allow them to take on certain roles with respect to assisting people who are dealing with particular areas of the ACT government. This may be an example of that. If it is, then it may be appropriate for that to be the case. Mr Speaker, I will take the issue on notice and find out for Ms Tucker.
MR HARGREAVES: Mr Speaker, my question, through you, is to the Minister for Urban Services. Minister, I wrote to you in July regarding a series of needlestick injuries at the Visy/Pacific recycling plant in Hume. In your response you said that Visy and Pacific Waste took appropriate action to divert the affected material directly to the landfill. I understand that three working groups were to be established to address various issues. Have these working groups met and, if so, how often, and what has been the result of the meetings?
MR SMYTH: I thank the member for his question. As a result of some needlestick injuries and some contaminated waste that was collected, concerns were raised. As I promised, I brought together all the parties that had an interest in this question, to make sure the seriousness of the issue was addressed. As an outcome of that meeting, three working parties were to be established. They were. I understand that two of them have met. The third has either just met this week, or will meet early next week.
MR HARGREAVES: I ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Have you notified Revolve, which has workers scavenging the tips, that there is a much higher risk to their safety now that you have diverted the affected material directly to the landfill?
MR SMYTH: Under the contracts, a certain amount of recyclable material contaminated at the point of source can be directed to the tip face. My understanding is that it is way below the allowed level. The contractors do a very good job of trying to ensure that as much material is recycled as is possible. I would have to take on notice the question of whether or not Revolve was notified. The health minister tells me that some 25 million needles are consumed Australia-wide each year, and so far no-one has contracted HIV or hepatitis C from a discarded needle. That is not to say that it might not happen, and it is not to say that it is not serious.
MR OSBORNE: My question is to the Minister for Urban Services, Mr Smyth. Minister, the normal cost of a return park and ride ticket with ACTION from Tuggeranong to the AIS is $6.50 a day, or an all-day ticket costs $8.40. For the Olympic soccer, the government is offering a $2 return park and ride fare from any bus interchange in the city to the AIS, which is $4.50 less than the cheapest normal bus fare. Given the ACT government controls the parking at Bruce and has already provided a huge disincentive to travel to the stadium by car through charging a $14 parking fee, why are you offering such a massively discounted bus fare which will have to be
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