PRIORITY BUS LANES

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (15:06): My question is to the Minister for Transport Services. Why wasn't new traffic modelling undertaken when assessing the viability of the bus lanes on Grenfell and Currie streets? The information presented to the opposition by the minister's department indicated traffic modelling prepared for the O-Bahn extension project was actually used for this bus lane project. This modelling was more than two years old and was for a project that involved changing the bus drop-off and pickup points on the identified streets to accommodate bus rapid transport.

The Hon. C.C. FOX (Bright—Minister for Transport Services) (15:07): The information which was provided to me by the department was current, it was adequate, I was happy with it. It was gone through by a number of people at senior level, and I was very pleased with what I received. I would also like to add—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.C. FOX: —because the member for Bragg has given me the opportunity to do so, that the bus lanes which she is discussing have been really very successful thus far. We have had very few complaints. In fact, the only complaints that we have had thus far have been in relation to buses having to wait a little longer, because it is school holidays and because they do have the time with which to wait. I am very disappointed by the opposition's continued desire to talk this stuff down. They trash it time and time and time again. When we do something positive they just stomp all over it. And what is interesting is that when I go out there and I look for a policy, which I do, from the Liberal opposition, about public transport, I find—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.C. FOX: —nothing at all. I find a complete policy vacuum. I went on their website and I found two policies—

Mrs REDMOND: Point of order: surely this is debate.

The SPEAKER: Order! Thank you. I'd ask the minister to return back to the question.

The Hon. C.C. FOX: —two policies from this year and none of them to do with public transport at all. So, come up with something, then we'll talk.