Page 95 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 2008
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improved financial position was not known at that stage. It brings into question the whole decision-making process.
As Mr Pratt pointed out, we have seen the manner in which consultations supposedly occurred with Griffith library. People in the electorate are still saying to me that they are dismayed by that experience. It was staggering to see the way in which that matter was handled and the way in which a very strong and compelling level of concern by the community, particularly the people of Griffith and surrounding suburbs, was so quickly dismissed.
Another issue that came readily to mind was the changes to ACTION bus services. The situation was raised as recently as this week. I have some constituents who became quite concerned about the way in which that community consultation occurred—not only the first round of changes, but the more recent round of changes, particularly in some areas where opinions were sought in the period leading up to Christmas when quite a large number of people were preoccupied with other activities. Indeed, many people leave town at that time because of holiday commitments and to beat the Christmas escape.
I am also still troubled about the issue of recycled drinking water and the decision to spend large amounts of money on a recycling plant that is supposedly just for display purposes. The community and the media were somewhat bewildered by that. As a matter of record, I do not have any objection in principle to the practice of recycling drinking water. But I do have issues with the fact that we are going to have this plant built but not run for the purpose for which I believe there is a compelling case—and which has been widely recognised.
It seems that this is stage 1 in a process. I know that Mr Costello is trying to convince me that this is not the case, but it appears to be initially for display purposes and one cannot help but believe that ultimately it will be adapted and used as a piece of capital for far more worthwhile purposes. I think that it will be the forerunner to the government implementing a recycled water policy that has been talked about for some time.
I do not have the same manic fear of this that, say, Mr Stefaniak does. Recently I saw some comments where he talked about drinking your neighbour’s toilet water. That sort of panic descriptor is quite reckless and irresponsible. We have seen it work successfully in other jurisdictions, but the issue here is about why you should go ahead and make this capital outlay as though you are half putting your foot in the water. It is a concern that that decision-making has occurred.
Mr TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Gentleman): Order! The time for discussion on the MPI has expired.
Road Transport (Third-Party Insurance) Bill 2007
Detail stage
Proposed new clauses 67A to 67H.
Debate resumed.
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