Page 525 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 5 March 2008
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MR SPEAKER: I will have a look at the Hansard.
Mr Stanhope: It was just a suggestion that he is moonlighting. That was all.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR BARR: Thank you, Mr Speaker. The question that I am simply asking is: given Mr Smyth’s very intense interest in this matter, allegations have come forward to me that Mr Smyth is, in fact, out seeking sponsorship. But, look, that is a matter for him. He can clear the record on that one. He can make a statement and make it quite clear what he has been up to.
Just to make absolutely clear again for Mr Smyth, the event budget is $70,000. Balloon Aloft’s fee is $10,000. The remainder of the money will be spent as is, under the guidelines, appropriate for the event program around interstate marketing and promotion of the event. The ACT government will continue to provide in-kind support, as it has done for the event throughout its history. The level of in-kind support has varied somewhere between $60,000 and $120,000 from year to year, depending on the year, and that will continue.
I look forward to what will be an outstanding event. It will coincide with the Olympic torch relay. There will be a mass balloon ascension. It will be a great event for Canberra. What would be a great pity would be if the shadow minister continued to denigrate the event and continued to peddle around the David Marshalls and Joseph Griffiths of this town looking for support, noting, of course, that they reject his position.
ACTION bus service—network
MR GENTLEMAN: My question is to the minister for transport. Can the minister advise the Assembly what work ACTION is undertaking regarding its proposed new bus network, network 08?
Mrs Dunne: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The question is out of order as there is no minister for transport.
MR SPEAKER: You will have to direct your question to—
MR GENTLEMAN: I will direct my question to the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Mr Speaker.
MR HARGREAVES: I thank Mr Gentleman for the question and, of course, for his ongoing interest in matters transport. ACTION and the ACT government are committed to building a better bus service for the Canberra community. ACTION has undertaken a comprehensive review of its bus services because the current bus network is extremely complex with over 90 routes. The current network causes confusion for many commuters and potential commuters. There is also an oversupply of routes in some areas compared to other public transport systems.
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