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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 9 Hansard (7 September) . . Page.. 3018 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

All of the scientific evidence demonstrates that a reduction of 10 kilometres an hour in the average speed of a vehicle on local and feeder streets will result in a significant number of accidents being avoided completely, a significant reduction in the severity of accidents and a marked increase in the capacity of pedestrians to survive such accidents. So this expenditure is worthwhile in that it will help save lives and reduce damage to people and property.

While this is a very good report, it is only as good as the committee secretariat. I would like to place on record my thanks to the two officers from the Assembly's secretariat who assisted the committee during the inquiry. Their assistance and willingness to dig out the issues and find the witnesses that the committee felt it needed to hear to get a good understanding of the issues is much appreciated. I hope that the government will adopt a positive response to what is a unanimous report on the introduction of a default 50-kilometre an hour speed limit for the ACT.

MS TUCKER (4.37): I would like to commend the committee on this report. I think it looks like a very good result. I was just talking to Mr Rugendyke and he said that his position had changed as a result of the committee process. I guess this is an example of how committees can work so well. I can remember an example in the last Assembly where Michael Moore started off thinking that night sky pollution was a bit of a strange subject and, after listening to the evidence, ended up feeling quite comfortable about taking the issue seriously. This is what has happened with this committee as well, so it is a good process. When a committee works well, people can listen, be informed on an issue and then take a position.

It is great that the committee brought down a unanimous report. I think the trial basis is a reasonable compromise. Although I think we probably could have just done it, I am quite comfortable with a two-year trial. I look forward to seeing the speed limit implemented. I hope that there will be a positive response from the government. I know that the government is in a different position. But in light of this unanimous report I would certainly hope that Mr Smyth and his colleagues seriously consider accepting these recommendations.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

MR BERRY (4.39): Labor will be supporting the bill in principle. The amendments proposed in the bill will give the minister the option of ruling out bogus operators in the territory. They also will give the minister certain powers in relation to universities in other countries. Essentially, the amendments will assist the minister to ensure that higher education courses are not falsely represented. Also, they will put in place a penalty regime in respect of any infringements.

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