Questions & Answers Paper No. 158 - Parliament of New South ...
Questions & Answers Paper No. 158 - Parliament of New South ...
Questions & Answers Paper No. 158 - Parliament of New South ...
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7046<br />
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS<br />
MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2009<br />
The provision <strong>of</strong> emergency ambulance services to NSW resident pensioners are covered under<br />
reciprocal rights agreements with Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia, the <strong>No</strong>rthern Territory and the<br />
ACT.<br />
The following restrictions apply:<br />
• Western Australia does not recognize the Health Care Concession Card, and<br />
• Victoria does not recognize the Commonwealth Seniors Card.<br />
NSW residents who hold a Health Care Concession Card and receive an invoice from the WA<br />
Ambulance Service or hold a Commonwealth Seniors Card and receive an invoice from the Victoria<br />
Ambulance Service are liable for the cost <strong>of</strong> the service.<br />
On 2 <strong>No</strong>vember 2006, the then Minister for Health announced that the NSW Government would pay for<br />
NSW resident concession card holders who had received an invoice from the Queensland Ambulance<br />
Service or <strong>South</strong> Australian Ambulance Service for emergency ambulance transport.<br />
*7344 BUS ROUTE 552—Ms Gladys Berejiklian asked the Minister for Transport, and Minister for the<br />
Illawarra—<br />
In relation to bus route 552:<br />
(1) Why did the Minister change the route <strong>of</strong> this service without adequate community consultation?<br />
(2) What is his response to calls from the community that the previous route be reinstated?<br />
Answer—<br />
I am advised:<br />
(1) The route used by Route 552 bus services has not been changed. Route 552 was introduced<br />
following extensive public consultation concerning changes to a number <strong>of</strong> routes operating in the<br />
Parramatta-<strong>No</strong>rth Rocks-Carlingford-Epping area. This resulted in Route 546, that previously<br />
terminated at Oatlands, being extended to Epping. Route 552 was introduced on a trial basis in<br />
response to concerns from residents in Prince Street, Oatlands.<br />
(2) Extension <strong>of</strong> Route 546 to Epping has been very successful, and reversion to the previous Oatlands<br />
terminus around Prince Street for Route 546 bus services is not supported.<br />
*7345 BUS ROUTE T66—Ms Gladys Berejiklian asked the Minister for Transport, and Minister for the<br />
Illawarra—<br />
In relation to bus route T66 in Sydney's north-west:<br />
(1) Is the Minister satisfied with the number <strong>of</strong> buses servicing this route?<br />
(2) What is a satisfactory number <strong>of</strong> passengers on such a service?<br />
(3) Is it acceptable that passengers stand in excess <strong>of</strong> 40 minutes to get to work?<br />
(4) What consultation process did the Minister engage in, in relation to the new timetable affecting this<br />
route?<br />
Answer—<br />
I am advised:<br />
(1) to (4) The Government is committed to meeting the transport needs <strong>of</strong> north west Sydney and<br />
continually monitors service levels. 113 Growth Buses are currently being delivered to Sydney's north<br />
west in a major boost to service levels.<br />
*7346 SCHOOL LEARNING SUPPORT TEACHER—Mr Peter Besseling asked the Minister for Education<br />
and Training, and Minister for Women—<br />
(1) What effect on school support resources, staff or funding in the Port Macquarie electorate will result<br />
from the Department <strong>of</strong> Education and Training's plans to change the basis <strong>of</strong> allocating those<br />
resources to schools?<br />
(2) What safeguards are proposed to ensure that specific expertise <strong>of</strong> existing Support Teachers, namely<br />
Learning Difficulties, Behaviour, Autism and Integration, will not be lost as a result <strong>of</strong> these<br />
positions being converted into a single, generic teacher classification to be called School Learning<br />
Support Teacher?<br />
Answer—<br />
(1) The proposed School Learning Support Program is currently the subject <strong>of</strong> consultation with key<br />
groups including principals, parents, advocacy groups and unions which will continue until the<br />
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