BUS CONTRACTS

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (14:50): Thank you, Madam Speaker. I hope that you at least have observed how good I have been today.

The SPEAKER: You have done very well, member for Bragg; I have only heard you about 17 times.

Ms CHAPMAN: It may come as no surprise, Madam Speaker, but my question is to the Minister for Transport Services. Will the minister confirm that she is not the first minister to impose penalties on private bus contractors and that the $38,000 fine she announced this morning is far lower than penalties imposed in previous years? The minister stated on radio this morning that she is the first minister to impose fines. Information provided to the Budget and Finance Committee shows financial penalties of $440,000 and $250,000 respectively for the 2006-07 and the 2007-08 years.

The Hon. C.C. FOX (Bright—Minister for Transport Services) (14:51): I would dispute the very premise of the member for Bragg's question. I understand that, indeed, I am the first minister to apply those particular penalties. In the past, those penalties have been applied by the department. Now—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.C. FOX: I am, actually—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Madam Speaker—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Madam Speaker, I will reiterate that—and I am not quite sure why it is so funny, but perhaps if I say it again you can do the strange fake laughter again. I am the first minister who has chosen to and who has applied these fee reductions to these companies in this way. This has not been done by a minister before. It has been enacted by a department but not by a minister, so I stand by that statement.

Your second question was in relation to the amount. The amount is, I think, an amount of $38,000, and that is across a three-month period. It is probably worth pointing out in relation to that amount that was initially given to those particular contractors that the second quarter is just about to end. It ends on 31 March. The fines that may or indeed may not be applied in the second quarter would be substantially larger.