3579 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS No. 138 TUESDAY 30 APRIL 2013 (The Questions and Answers Paper published for the first sitting day in each week will contain, by number and title, all unanswered questions, together with questions to which answers have been received on the previous sitting and any new questions. On subsequent days, new questions are printed, as are questions to which answers were received the previous day. Consequently the full text of any question will be printed only twice: when notice is given; and, when answered.) Notice given on date shown 3580 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 138— Tuesday 30 April 2013 Publication of Questions Answer to be lodged by Q & A No. 125 (Including Question Nos 3240 to 3266) 28 March 2013 Q & A No. 126 (Including Question Nos 3267 to 3444) 02 April 2013 Q & A No. 127 (Including Question Nos 3445 to 3496) 03 April 2013 Q & A No. 128 (Including Question Nos 3497 to 3501) 04 April 2013 Q & A No. 129 (Including Question Nos 3502 to 3605) 16 April 2013 Q & A No. 130 (Including Question Nos 3606 to 3612) 17 April 2013 Q & A No. 131 (Including Question Nos 3613 to 3675) 18 April 2013 Q & A No. 132 (Including Question Nos 3676 to 3727) 23 April 2013 Q & A No. 133 (Including Question Nos 3728 to 4052) 24 April 2013 Q & A No. 134 (Including Question Nos 4053 to 4068) 25 April 2013 Q & A No. 135 (Questions—Nil) - Q & A No. 136 (Including Question Nos 4069 to 4081) 30 April 2013 Q & A No. 137 (Including Question Nos 4082 to 4143) 01 May 2013 Q & A No. 138 (Including Question Nos 4144 to 4327) 04 June 2013 3581 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 138— Tuesday 30 April 2013 21 FEBRUARY 2013 (Paper No. 125) *3240 TRANSPORT—WHEEL CHAIR ACCESSIBLE TAXIS—Ms Sharpe asked the Minister for Roads and Ports representing the Minister for Transport— (1) When is the evaluation of subsidies and incentives to support the provision of wheel chair taxis due to be completed? (2) (a) Will this review be made public? (b) If not, why not? Answer— I am advised: (1) and (2) The Government is currently considering options to improve services for customers who rely on wheelchair accessible taxis. Customers and stakeholders are being consulted as part of this process. *3241 TRANSPORT—ZIG ZAG RAILWAY—Ms Sharpe asked the Minister for Roads and Ports representing the Minister for Transport— (1) (a) Since September 2012, has the Government met with representatives of the Zig Zag Railway? (b) If so, when? (2) Since September 2012, what assistance has the Government provided the Zig Zag Railway to meet the requirements of the Independent Transport Safety Regulator report? (3) When will the Zig Zag railway be open for passengers? Answer— I am advised: (1) (a) No. (b) see (1)(a). (2) Transport for NSW and RailCorp made an ongoing offer to Zig Zag Railway to attend training courses at the RailCorp Australian Rail Training College at Petersham. I understand that a number of Zig Zag Railway staff have taken up this offer and have attended training courses. (3) The Zig Zag Railway can resume passenger operations when the Independent Transport Safety Regulator is satisfied that the safety issues that were identified have been addressed. *3245 TRANSPORT—GRAFFITI RELATED INCIDENTS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT—Ms Sharpe asked the Minister for Roads and Ports representing the Minister for Transport— (1) How many prosecutions have there been for graffiti related incidents on public transport since the Government's new graffiti legislation was introduced in August 2012? (2) How many of these prosecutions were successful? Answer— I am advised: (1) and (2) The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research holds figures on police prosecutions and court outcomes in NSW. This question should be redirected to the Attorney General. *3246 POLICE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES—GRAFFITI RELATED INCIDENTS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT—Ms Sharpe asked the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Vice-President of the Executive Council— 3582 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 138— Tuesday 30 April 2013 (1) How many prosecutions have there been for graffiti related incidents on public transport since the Government's new graffiti legislation was introduced in August 2012? (2) How many of these prosecutions were successful? Answer— (1) and (2) Questions regarding prosecutions and crime statistics are more appropriately addressed to the Attorney General, whose department is also the lead agency for graffiti. *3247 PREMIER—DEPARTMENT LIAISON OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO NSW MINISTERS OFFICES—Ms Sharpe asked the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Vice-President of the Executive Council representing the Premier, and Minister for Western Sydney— Of the 57 Department Liaison Officers (DLOs) assigned to NSW Ministers' Offices, how many are assigned to the Office of the Minister for Transport? Answer— I am advised: Three *3248 TRANSPORT—NORTH WEST RAIL LINK COMMUNITY INFORMATION CENTRE AT CASTLE HILL—Ms Sharpe asked the Minister for Roads and Ports representing the Minister for Transport— (1) In the 2011-12 financial year: (a) What was the budget for staff assigned to the North West Rail Link (NWRL) Community Information Centre? (b) What was the actual expenditure on staff assigned to the NWRL Community Information Centre? (2) In the 2011-12 financial year: (a) What was the budget for rent for the NWRL Community Information Centre? (b) What was the actual expenditure on rent for the NWRL Community Information Centre? (3) In the 2011-12 financial year: (a) What was the budget for utilities at NWRL Community Information Centre? (b) What was the actual expenditure for utilities at the NWRL Community Information Centre? (4) In the 2011-12 financial year: (a) What was the budget for promotional materials produced for the NWRL Community Information Centre (including animations, leaflets, printing)? (b) What was the actual expenditure on promotional materials produced for the NWRL Community Information Centre? Answer— I am advised: The Community Information Centre is funded through the North West Rail Link and as such is included in the overall budget for that project. Unlike your Government when it was in office, we value meaningful consultation with the community. *3249 TRANSPORT—NORTH WEST RAIL LINK COMMUNITY INFORMATION CENTRE AT CASTLE HILL—Ms Sharpe asked the Minister for Roads and Ports representing the Minister for Transport— (1) In the 2012-13 financial year: (a) What was the budget for staff assigned to the North West Rail Link (NWRL) Community Information Centre? (b) What was the budget for rent for the NWRL Community Information Centre? (c) What was the budget for utilities at NWRL Community Information Centre? 3583 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 138— Tuesday 30 April 2013 (d) What was the budget for promotional materials produced for the NWRL Community Information Centre (including animations, leaflets, printing)? Answer— I am advised: The Community Information Centre is funded through the North West Rail Link and as such is included in the overall budget for that project. Unlike your Government when it was in office, we value meaningful consultation with the community. *3250 TRANSPORT—INS CAREER MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR—Ms Sharpe asked the Minister for Roads and Ports representing the Minister for Transport— (1) INS Career Management has been contracted at a cost of $1,259,897 for career development services from October 2011 to November 2012. (a) How many public sector workers have accessed these services? Please provide a breakdown of the numbers and level of service provided? Answer— I am advised: (1) (a) Regrettably, under the previous Government, middle management at RailCorp became bloated. The Government is committed to providing career management services for employees who leave RailCorp. *3251 TRANSPORT—THIRD HORIZON CONSULTING PARTNERS CONTRACT—Ms Sharpe asked the Minister for Roads and Ports representing the Minister for Transport— (1) Third Horizon Consulting Partners has been contracted at a cost of $500,000 to develop a performance based services contract. Has the contract been finalised? (2) (a) Can you provide a copy of the contract? (b) If not, why not? Answer— I am advised: (1) and (2) Information relating to the Rail Services contract is available in the Transport for NSW Annual Report. *3253 TRANSPORT—ACTIVE TRANSPORT PLAN—Ms Sharpe asked the Minister for Roads and Ports representing the Minister for Transport— When will the Active Transport plan be released? Answer— I am advised: After 16 years in Government, Labor failed to release an active Transport plan. The NSW Government's plan for active transport will be released this year. *3255 TRANSPORT—EMU PLAINS STABLING FACILITY—Ms Sharpe asked the Minister for Roads and Ports representing the Minister for Transport— What is the expenditure to date on the Emu Plains stabling facility? Answer— I am advised: 3584 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 138— Tuesday 30 April 2013 Work on the Emu Plains Stabling Facility commenced under the former Labor Government. Regrettably, the constant changes in Labor's transport plans meant a fleet stabling strategy was never properly developed and implemented. Transport for NSW recently undertook a review of all train stabling requirements across the network to ensure the best use of resources while maintaining service reliability. With two major stabling facilities being delivered at Auburn and Rossmore, it was determined that the stabling facility at Emu Plains would not be required for a number of years. *3256 TRANSPORT—ARTAMON STATION ACCESS—Ms Sharpe asked the Minister for Roads and Ports representing the Minister for Transport— (1) (a) Has Artamon Station been considered for upgrades under the Transport Access Program? (b) If yes, what is the status of this project? (c) If not, why not? (d) When will Artamon station be given an accessibility upgrade? Answer— I am advised: On 23 April 2012, the NSW Government announced a new Transport Access Program which will deliver accessible, modern, secure and integrated transport infrastructure where it is needed most.