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Mr MIKE BAIRD (Manly) [1.03 p.m.]: I represent the Opposition on the World Youth Day Amendment Bill 2007. I am very pleased that Sydney is hosting World Youth Day 2008, unlike the many grumps in the community who were not pleased about the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation conference. It is fantastic to have Sydney at the heart of big, world-class events, and by any stretch of the imagination World Youth Day is one of the biggest, most influential events held in the world, and it is certainly for the youth of today. It is a fantastic addition to the Sydney landscape. Members of the Opposition look forward to it very much. World Youth Day is organised by the Catholic Church. It is not just an event; it also unites young people from around the world. I look forward to young people from diverse countries, cultures and backgrounds coming to Sydney next July. I know that the member for Epping will have a few words to say about the experience of his sons in similar events in other cultures.
As shadow Minister for Youth Affairs I am very proud of this event. The Opposition will work very closely with the Government to ensure that the event succeeds for the betterment of youth not only in Sydney and New South Wales but, indeed, global youth as they transcend to Sydney. Hosting 500,000 young people is an enormous task, and the Opposition certainly understands the need to ensure that measures are in place to ensure the smooth running of the event. However, I will point out a couple of concerns. I am a little uncomfortable with the weight of power prescribed to the Government in the bill. I am particularly concerned with the impact on private bus operators, who have voiced their concerns to me quite strongly.
The bill expands the powers of the World Youth Day Co-ordination Authority, which was established in January 2007 under the World Youth Day Act 2006. The authority was formed with an initial focus on transport and traffic coordination. The bill seeks to do three things. The first is extending the powers of the World Youth Day Co-ordination Authority to direct other government agencies in the running of the event, such as the State Emergency Service in assisting with crowd control. The service is very happy to be involved and we should pay tribute to it not only for the work it does in times of emergency, but also for its willingness to give time to events for the betterment of Sydney.
Second, the bill suggests similar restrictions to control advertising near the site and air spaces as were successfully put in place for the Sydney Olympic Games. Third, the bill provides for the use of Randwick racecourse for the event and for authorised people and organisations to access the site. I will refer later to a couple of concerns of the racing industry. Overall, the intent of the bill seems reasonable. Some powers and resources need to be allocated to ensure that an event of this magnitude is brought to fruition. That is a complicated task. I know that many people within the Government are working hard and long to make sure that World Youth Day is successful.
I turn now to the concerns of the bus industry. The elements of the bill relating to bus services are heavy handed. The bus industry has earned huge respect, it is integral to Sydney on a daily basis and its concerns need to be listened to. The bill proposes that the Director General of the Ministry for Transport be given the authority to direct private bus operators as he deems necessary in relation to this event. That is the premise that we are dealing with. The director general has been given the authority to determine the price for such services. It is a twofold authority.
The Bus and Coach Association has been in regular dialogue with the Ministry of Transport and World Youth Day officials to arrange additional transport services for World Youth Day. The association was very confident that negotiations were progressing well and that the planning and delivery of additional services, in accordance with the requirements specified, would be efficient and would provide value for money. Yet the Bus and Coach Association was not aware that the bill had been introduced into the House until we consulted it. I find that surprising. The Government had been working very closely with an organisation that is integral to the event, and I would have thought it a logical step to consult with the key stakeholders. The association was shocked not only to learn that the bill had been introduced but also of its contents. Although there had been dialogue between the association and the Government, that is the message that it provided to me.
At the outset I should say that the Bus and Coach Association is strongly supportive of World Youth Day and is keen to promote the benefits of public transport. However, it is uncomfortable with the weight of authority given to the Government in coordinating bus services. The Executor Director of the Bus and Coach Association, Darryl Mellish, stated:
The World Youth Day and Amendment Bill gives the Director-General unfettered power to override existing contracts and require provision of services at the DG's direction at rates determined by the DG. There is no balance of acting reasonably or on normal commercial terms.
The concept should be that the rates must be reasonable and on normal commercial terms. I am sure that commonsense will prevail, but it is hard not to feel the angst of the Bus and Coach Association when it negotiates in good faith and a bill is introduced that provides that whatever happens in the negotiations, the Government will adopt whatever terms it wishes. The association has raised a fair point. Darryl Mellish further stated:
The Association considers that the best way to achieve the most effective transport results for World Youth Day is to work in partnership with the transport providers and not to dictate what they will do and what they'll be paid.
That point has been covered. The association believes that bus operators should be paid hourly rather than on a per kilometre basis. Mr Mellish said:
This event does not lend itself to a kilometre rate as time delays are expected.
As a number of people will be jammed into the city and as a large number of people will travel, on that key day in particular, time delays are a logical expectation. Indeed, no person could expect anything else. Therefore, payment on an hourly rate is a reasonable request. It is a shame that the Minister for Transport, who is responsible for World Youth Day and seems to be much happier about it than the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation conference, found it necessary to introduce legislation rather than taking a commercial position. Peter V'Landys, the Chief Executive of Racing New South Wales, is broadly supportive of the bill. However, he, too, has found that the outcome of his negotiations with the Government do not align with the content of the bill. He is pleased with the outcome of a meeting on 14 November, but he wants the tenets of that meeting to be reflected in the bill rather than the reserve powers.
From discussions with the Minister's office I understand that these are reserve powers. If, in rare and exceptional circumstances, action must be taken to execute an event of this magnitude one needs to move quickly, almost without reference. It is a significant responsibility and should not be undertaken without the engagement and understanding of key stakeholders. To do otherwise sends the wrong message about working with government. We must work in partnership if we are to gain the trust of the private sector and the community. The standing principle of government should be to negotiate, not to dictate. The bill sends a message to the Bus and Coach Association and to Racing New South Wales that the Government is happy to negotiate but ultimately it will dictate if the negotiations do not go its way.
During the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation conference a number of people visited my electorate office concerned about police powers. Heightened security was necessary during that event to ensure the safety of world leaders and participants. However, government should not try to bestow unfettered powers and access across the realms of any event. Government must consult with key stakeholders and produce outcomes in line with community expectations. I pay tribute to the local organising community. World Youth Day is a huge event and people are working 24 hours a day to make it successful. The Opposition wishes well all church representatives, State and Federal members of Parliament, including the Leader of the Opposition, who is on the committee, business people, and youth and community representatives in their preparations over the next eight months.
Finally, I call on the Government to work in genuine partnership with all stakeholders. Despite the fact that we do not oppose the bill, we have some strong reservations about it and would like commonsense to prevail. We ask the Government to work with the Bus and Coach Association to achieve an outcome that secures the event, takes on board the association's concerns and acknowledges its significance role and contribution towards making this event a success. The racing industry has also played a key role and its concern should be acknowledged. I call for the tenets of the 14 November meeting to be reflected in the commercial arrangements that are negotiated. The bill contains significant powers and we want those to be reserve powers of the highest order. The challenge is for the event to take place without the need to use those reserve powers.
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