2537
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Friday 7 May 2004
2489
PARLIAMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
2003-04
FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTY-THIRD PARLIAMENT
______
QUESTIONS
AND
ANSWERS
no. 74
Friday 7 May 2004
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(The Questions and Answers Paper is published for each sitting day and will contain, by number and title, all unanswered questions, together with questions to which answers have been received on the previous sitting day and any new questions. Consequently the full text of any question will be printed only twice: when notice is given; and, when answered.)
Q. & A. No. 69(Including Question Nos 1873 to 1913) / 6 May 2004
Q. & A. No. 70
(Including Question Nos 1914 to 1933) / 7 May 2004
Q. & A. No. 71
(Including Question Nos 1934 to 1962) / 11 May 2004
Q. & A. No. 72
(Including Question Nos 1963 to 2010) / 8 June 2004
Q. & A. No. 73
(Including Question Nos 2011 to 2048) / 9 June 2004
Q. & A. No. 74
(Including Question Nos 2049 to 2091) / 10 June 2004
Notice of Question given on the date shown
1 APRIL 2004
(Paper No. 69)
*1873 PATIENT CARE AT GOULBURN BASE HOSPITAL—Ms Hodgkinson to Minister for Health—
As was the case with an 81-year-old female intensive care patient at Goulburn Base Hospital on 26 February 2004, how many other Intensive Care Patients have been transferred to other hospitals because Goulburn Base had insufficient nursing staff to provide the required level of care during:
(a) 2000?
(b) 2001?
(c) 2002?
(d) 2003?
(e) As of 31 March 2004?
Answer—
I am advised that Goulburn Base Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit is adequately staff in numerical terms, however, Intensive Care Patients requiring artificial ventilation are transferred to other hospitals if the rostered nursing staff do not have the appropriate skill levels in that area. This particular skills deficit is being addressed through the provision of education, training and secondment to tertiary facilities to gain practical experience in the care of patients undergoing artificial ventilation.
*1874 LICENSING OF BUILDERS—Ms Hodgkinson to Minister for Fair Trading, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Commerce—
(1) Since the establishment of the Home Building Service how many complaints about defective building work have been made to the service?
(2) Since the establishment of the Home Building Service how many builders have had their licences cancelled because of investigations by the service into defective building work?
Answer—
(1) In the first six months of the operation of the Home Building Service 1425 complaints have been received concerning defective building work.
(2) Disciplinary results against builders and contractors in the first six months include:
· 4 individuals having their licence cancelled;
· 18 defendants being prosecuted for 28 offences;
· 4 unlicensed builders having Supreme Court injunctions to stop them undertaking work; and
· 44 penalty notices being issued for minor offences.
*1875 FIRES ON RAILWAY LINES—Ms Hodgkinson to Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, and Minister for Natural Resources, representing the Minister for Transport Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Natural Resources (Forests)—
(1) During 2003 how many fires wee started at the side of railway tracks by the rail track-grinding machine that was operating in the vicinity of Bowning?
(2) Was the Bowning Rural Fire Service Brigade told that they are not permitted to enter railway property to fight fires started by the grinding machine or by the exhausts of old diesel engines?
(3) Were RFS Brigades only allowed onto railway property after the intervention of Police Superintendent Ferguson from the Goulburn Local Area Command?
(4) What was the cause of the fire at Bowning Railway Station on 19 February 2004?
Answer—
I am advised:
Track grinding machines were operating in the Bowning area between 25 July and 30 September 2003. The Rail Infrastructure Corporation’s (RIC) safety records indicate no fires reported in the Bowning area as a result of rail grinding or maintenance activities during 2003.
RailCorp advise the Bowning Rural Fire Brigade attended a fire on board a privately operated freight train on 18 February 2004 at Bowning Station. The private freight train driver advised RailCorp at no time were brigade personnel denied access to the rail corridor.
The fire was contained within the locomotive and no damage was caused to the station buildings or the infrastructure.
Local RIC staff are not aware of concerns with the Rural Fire Service (RFS) access to the railway corridor or any intervention by the NSW Police service.
RIC advise there is a long standing protocol to protect the safety of RFS volunteers that means RFS personnel are accompanied by railway staff when they enter railway property to fight fires or undertake controlled burn offs.
Twenty four hour contact numbers for RIC maintenance team managers are held by local councils, local fire brigades and RFS brigades. RIC staff meet annually with the combined bush fire brigade captains in the Bowning area to reinforce these protocols and discuss any issues.
RailCorp encourages the support of RFS personnel. If RailCorp’s track maintenance group is undertaking rail grinding, it seeks the RFS advice and invites personnel to be on hand where necessary.
*1876 REDFERN RIOTS—MEDIA INTERVIEW—Mr Debnam to Minister for Police—
In relation to Clive Small’s interview on ABC Four Corners regarding Redfern policing (29/03/04):
(1) Did you inform Clive Small, prior to the Redfern riots on 18 February 2004, that “there were adequate police to deal with the problems in Redfern”?
(2) Do you agree with Clive Small that the statement “there were adequate police to deal with the problems in Redfern” was “highly inaccurate” and “an ill-informed response”?
(3) If so, what steps are you now taking to assist police in dealing with problems in Redfern?
Answer—
(1) No.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable.
*1877 POLICE INVESTIGATIONS—Mr Debnam to Minister for Police—
In relation to police investigations:
(1) Did police attend any deaths, accidents or incidents, other than that of Caroline Byrne, at ‘the gap’ at Watson’s Bay on 7 June or 8 June 1995?
(2) If so, which deaths, accidents or incidents did police attend, at what times and what police resources were used?
Answer—
NSW Police has advised me:
(1) Yes.
(2) A car crew from Rose Bay Local Area Command investigated a report of concern for the welfare of a female threatening to commit suicide at The Gap on 8 June 1995.
*1878 TRAFFIC SERVICE BRANCH—Mr Debnam to Minister for Police—
In relation to the departure of Superintendent Ron Sorrenson as head of Traffic Services:
(1) Have any of the unsuccessful candidates for the vacancy filled by Superintendent John Hartley, complained about the appointment process or the appointment itself, and if so how were these complaints resolved?
(2) Was Superintendent Hartley's intended appointment ever the subject of a meeting between one of the unsuccessful applicants, his legal and industrial representatives and Deputy Commissioner Madden and if so, what was the outcome of this meeting?
(3) At any stage, was Superintendent Hartley asked to withdraw from the group of short listed applicants?
(4) Does your advice: “not to my knowledge” for Questions (1), (2) and (3) above reflect:
(a) that the Ministry and NSW Police advised that the answer to (1) (2) and (3) above was no, or
(b) does it mean you did not seek advice from the Ministry or NSW Police, in each instance?
(5) If not, what does it mean?
Answer—
NSW Police has advised me:
(1) I refer the Honourable Member to my answer to Question on Notice 1307 in the Legislative Assembly Question and Answer Paper.
(2) See (1).
(3) See (1).
(4) and (5) Not applicable.
*1879 STUDENT BUS FARES—Ms Berejiklian to Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, and Minister for Natural Resources, representing the Minister for Transport Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Natural Resources (Forests)—
In relation to bus fares for school travel for primary and high school students, what is the rationale behind the policy where it costs money to purchase a pass for travel to the local school when a child is within a designated area, while there is no cost for children travelling outside the designated area?
Answer—
The School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) has provided student travel based on distance since its inception in rural areas in 1904. The scheme recognised the need for rural families to be assisted with school transport. In 1968, SSTS was extended to include metropolitan Sydney.
The NSW Government provides free travel on public transport under the SSTS for:
· all infants school students (years K-2);
· all primary school students who live more than 1.6 kilometres from their school; and
· all secondary school students who live more than 2 kilometres from their school.
When a student lives within the distance boundaries but must follow a circuitous walking route to school, a subsidised pass may be issued to primary school students whose walking distance to school exceeds 2.3 kilometres, and to high school students whose walking distance to school exceeds 2.9 kilometres.
In addition, the Government provides a subsidy towards the cost of transporting students by private vehicle in areas where there is no public transport, such as some rural areas.
There are also provisions for SSTS passes to be issued on medical grounds and in other special circumstances, such as safety and hardship.
The eligibility criteria for SSTS is the most generous in Australia compared with similar schemes in other States.
In NSW, students who are not eligible for SSTS are still able to travel to school by public transport. They are entitled to a half fare concession and some bus companies, including Sydney Buses, offer discounted term passes.
*1882 SCHOOL MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL WORKS—Mr Hazzard to Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Training, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs—
(1) How much money has been spent on school maintenance and capital works in the Wakehurst Electorate for the last three years?
(2) For each year specify the individual school and amount of money spent?
Answer—
Capital works expenditure for schools in the Wakehurst electorate from 2001/2002 to 2003/2004 was $3,331,355.
In addition, within the Wakehurst electorate, $687,023 has been allocated from the 2001/2002, 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 Replacement Works Programs with funds allocated to the following schools: Allambie Heights Public School, Arranounbai School, Beacon Hill Public School, Brookvale Public School, Collaroy Plateau Public School, Cromer Public School, Dee Why Public School, Fisher Road School, Forestville Public School, Killarney Heights Public School, Killarney Heights High School, Narraweena Public School, Northern Beaches Secondary College Cromer Campus and Wheeler Heights Public School.
With respect to preventative maintenance, the Department of Education and Training allocates funding by contract packages which is based on school education areas and not to individual schools. All schools in the Wakehurst electorate will have some work undertaken as a result of this funding.
*1883 SCHOOL COUNSELLORS—Mrs Skinner to Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Training, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs—
How many school counsellors were employed by the Department of Education as at 30 March 2004?
Answer—
As at 30 March 2004 there were over 800 school counsellors employed by the Department of Education and Training.
*1887 TICKET SALES—Mrs Hopwood to Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, and Minister for Natural Resources, representing the Minister for Transport Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Natural Resources (Forests)—
(1) What percentage of all ticket sales does the full-fare paying commuter contribute to the cost of travel on public transport?
(2) What percentage of all sales of tickets does the Government aim that the commuter should pay towards the cost of travel on public transport?
Answer—
I am advised:
The ratio of tickets purchased by full-fare paying passengers to passengers who only purchase concession fares differs between government and private operators and different transport modes.
The Interim Parry Report into Public Passenger Transport notes more than $3 billion is spent on public transport in New South Wales each year, including around $1.9 billion paid by the New South Wales Government.
The Parry report indicates the contribution of farebox revenue to overall revenue varies among operators: CityRail (28%), Sydney Buses (54%), Sydney Ferries (54%), Newcastle Buses and Ferries (22%) and private bus companies (31%).
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) sets maximum fares for RailCorp and the State Transit Authority. IPART also makes recommendations on fare changes for private transport operators including private bus, private ferry and taxi fares.
In response to the Parry Inquiry the Government stated any fare increases above the Consumer Price Index through the IPART would have to be directly aligned to clearly identified service improvements such as Rail Clearways.
*1890 ENERGY COMPANIES—Mr Hazzard to Minister for Energy and Utilities, Minister for Science and Medical Research, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts—
(1) What were the additional borrowings related to any capital restructure by the following energy companies for each year since 1995 to 2004:
(a) EnergyAustralia?
(b) Integral Energy?
(c) Country Energy?
(d) Australian Inland?
(e) Eraring Energy?
(2) How much money has been paid to Government by the following energy companies as a result of capital restructuring for each year since 1995 to 2004:
(a) EnergyAustralia?
(b) Integral Energy?
(c) Country Energy?
(d) Australian Inland?
(e) Eraring Energy?
(3) What is the percentage of borrowings as a proportion of assets before and after each referred to restructure?
Answer—
(1) to (3) For the period to 30 June 2003, the information requested is already publicly available and is located in the annual reports of each NSW energy corporation. In October 2003, Eraring Energy repaid capital of $137 million to the NSW Government which was funded by an increase in borrowings of the same amount.
*1891 CAPITAL RESTRUCTURING—Mr Hazzard to Minister for Energy and Utilities, Minister for Science and Medical Research, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts—