Fuel Prices 
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| Wednesday, 30 May 2007 | ||||||
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Mr MIKE BAIRD (Manly) [4.04 p.m.]: I am delighted to speak to this motion. I have learned in business that you need to take responsibility for what you can take responsibility for and manage what you can manage. Here is the Iemma Government again pointing the finger at someone else. It is about time the Government accepted responsibility for fixing this problem. The Government has rightly raised the issue of rising fuel prices and the impact that is having on families and small business. Indeed, it is having an impact across the State. As the member for Vaucluse pointed out, it is a start but the Government could do much more in relation to point two of this motion. I believe it is time we stopped attacking the Federal Government and got on with managing what we are supposed to manage— I believe it is time we stopped attacking the Federal Government and got on with managing what we are supposed to manage—the State. The Iemma Government has a great habit of pointing the finger and taking accountability for nothing. When one looks at the facts, the Federal Government has actually taken charge of this issue: it has acted and provided a financial incentive for liquefied petroleum gas [LPG] conversion—a significant dollar-in-the pocket incentive to take the pressure off fuel prices. We applaud the defence of working families but the answer I heard from the Government sounded almost like the setting up of a bureaucracy to have a chat to talk through the problems. I have a unique idea and I hope the Iemma Government uses it: Let us improve public transport to make it more attractive for people to use than their cars. If this Government could take hold of that unique idea it could radically transform our State, not only in relation to the pressure put on families but also in helping the environment. In many respects it will give families more time together. Along the Military Road to Spit Road corridor in my electorate, the average travel time has increased by 10 minutes in the past 10 years. If we are talking about defending families and helping them, that is 10 minutes each way, or 20 minutes a day less time that families are spending together because we do not have a viable public transport alternative in that corridor. How can the Government be serious about taking pressure off families and improving traffic if last year it cut 270 bus services? The member for Willoughby issued a media release on 16 January stating that 3,500 weekly bus and train services across the city have been removed. How can the Government be serious about looking after families if it is providing less public transport and not addressing the traffic problems that are causing more time to be spent on the roads? In relation to Sydney Ferries, last June there were 432,000 fewer people using the Manly ferry service because there was a 38 per cent increase in delays and cancellations, there were price increases, and the ferries were becoming increasingly unreliable. People were given no options for public transport so they were using their cars. That is putting pressure right back on families. If we were serious about addressing this issue we would be improving public transport. But we have had ferry services cut, bus services cut, the traffic has increased, and we are told the solution is the widening of The Spit Bridge. It is time this Government took seriously the concerns of families across this State and dealt with the issue—managing what it can manage. The first idea I have for the Government to address this issue is to improve public transport. Add to:          Write Comment
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