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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 2 Hansard (5 March) . . Page.. 549 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

inquiry. But this inquiry, we believe, is compromised. It runs the risk of being a whitewash, not because it is headed by Mr McLeod-

MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, stick to the personal nature of your explanation rather than debating the issue.

MR SMYTH: I am just saying that what I was saying was not because of Mr McLeod's presence, but because of the way in which the government has set it up.

Perhaps I can have a second go under standing order 46 in response to Mr Quinlan.

Leave granted.

MR SMYTH: There was certainly no intention to misquote the minister in PAC report No 4. I will speak to the secretary and we will look at what we have said. If it is necessary to correct it, I will certainly correct it.

Mr Quinlan presented the following paper:

Gungahlin-light rail system

MS TUCKER (3.55): I move:

applauds the government's proposed investigation of a light rail system for Canberra;

notes the recommendations of its first stage being a network linking Civic, Barton, Russell and the Parliamentary Triangle;

calls on the government to:

make the public transport needs of Gungahlin residents the first priority for its sustainable transport plan;

explore a range of innovative public transport options, including a trial of ADART services and bus-only lanes between Civic and Gungahlin;

ensure that Gungahlin residents enjoy significantly improved public transport services before a light rail network is operational, and that extension of the network to Gungahlin is time tabled into later expansion.

I have raised this motion because every now and again people get excited about the notion of having a light rail system in Canberra. The argument is even put that we will never be a truly modern and cosmopolitan city until we have light rail. The notion of having a cappuccino in Manuka and a job in Civic captures very well the mobile, intelligent, well-educated, affluent community that makes up so much of the Canberra we promote.

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