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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 9 Hansard (7 September) . . Page.. 3015 ..


MS CARNELL (continuing):

personal information. Another will be supporting the staff affected by this change as they adapt to a new operating environment.

From 1 March next year staff will have the opportunity to be involved in the provision of a much more integrated service to the ACT community. There will be better processes for delivering services. A wider variety of services will be offered. Better, simpler technical support will be available. All of these have the potential to generate greater satisfaction for all customers and, importantly, staff. With this improved service we will be taking another significant step in making Canberra the clever, caring capital, which is what we all want for this great city.

I commend the Canberra Connect initiative to members of the Assembly as it really will improve the quality of life in Canberra and ensure that Canberra stays at the forefront of information technology and communication in this country.

PLANNING AND URBAN SERVICES-STANDING COMMITTEE

Report on Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bill (No 3) 1998

MR HIRD (4.24): As chairman, I present the following report:

Planning and Urban Services-Standing Committee-Report No 56-Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bill (No 3) 1998, together with a copy of the extracts of the minutes of proceedings.

I move:

That the report be noted.

This report is the culmination of a review of whether or not the default urban speed limit should be changed from 60 kilometres an hour to 50 kilometres an hour. Despite the onerous workload that this committee continually experiences, it is with great pleasure and satisfaction that I note this report was completed in the shortest possible time. I thank my fellow committee members for the sterling effort in bringing this about.

When the bill was first introduced in August 1998, the Motor Traffic Act 1936 was still in existence. However, we are now subject to the regime of the Australian road rules. Earlier this year new legislation was introduced that referenced the Australian road rules and, as such, the procedure to alter these rules has become more than just a matter of amending our laws. The committee understands that there are moves by the Victorian government to do just this. They have applied to seek an exemption from the default urban speed limit of 60 kilometres an hour and have requested the Australian Transport Council to initiate a review to consider the adoption of an Australia-wide 50-kilometre an hour default speed for built-up areas. The committee considered this issue to be part of the broader range of traffic calming measures, and I refer to the committee's report on this matter earlier this year.


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