Questions & Answers Paper No. 158 - Parliament of New South ...

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LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2009
*7415 REQUEST FOR HAZARD REDUCTION—Mr Ray Williams asked the Minister for Planning, and
Minister for Redfern Waterloo representing the Minister for Police, Minister for Lands, and Minister for
Rural Affairs—
With respect to a repeated request by a resident of 2700D Bells Line of Road, which is a Crown Road
adjoining Bells Line of Road, for hazard reduction to be undertaken to the sides of her road given the
road is owned by the Government, when will hazard reduction be undertaken to remove the threat of
bushfire to residents and their homes located on this road?
Answer—
The Land and Property Management Authority consults with RFS and other agencies in the development
of the Risk Management Plan for the District. I'm advised that the current circumstances of No. 2700D
Bells Line of Road do not warrant hazard reduction within the Crown public road that provides access to
that property.
*7416 RETENTION OF RAILWAY STAFF—Mr Ray Williams asked the Minister for Transport, and Minister
for the Illawarra—
Regarding the Minister's statement that railway staff will be retained at stations during am and pm peak
periods, what is the explanation for the finalised Rail Corp staff review, which removes all staff from
stations such as Mulgrave and East Richmond during pm periods, which both have numerous
schoolchildren catching trains at these locations who will now be unsupervised and therefore have their
safety jeopardised?
Answer—
I am advised:
The aim of RailCorp's station staff review, agreed to by the union as part of the 2008 Union Collective
Agreement, is to determine appropriate staffing levels on stations and provide a balance between the
requirements of safety, efficiency and customer service, including for those customers with disabilities.
The process for the review of staffing levels at station locations is outlined in the 2008 RailCorp Union
Collective Agreement. It takes account of the various factors influencing staffing including customer
service needs, passenger numbers, operational needs, the general context of the station and its working
environment and efficiency considerations. It includes input from RailCorp management, the relevant
Unions and the station workplace representatives.
*7417 PAYMENT OF BONUS—Mr Ray Williams asked the Minister for Community Services—
Why did Mr Ian Alchin, the Executive Officer of Children First Inc, in February 2008, receive $45,000 as
a bonus, apparently made in recognition of the time and effort put into ensuring that the new Blacktown
Road Child Care Centre was completed and opened, which bonus was paid from NSW taxpayers' money
through a grant from the NSW Department of Community Services for the construction of the Child Care
Centre?
Answer—
A formal complaint alleging a bonus payment to Mr Ian Alchin was made to the NSW Office of Liquor,
Gaming and Racing which referred the matter to Community Services.
The complaint was investigated including a full review of the disbursement of funds by Children's First
Inc.
It is customary and permissible under the funding arrangement for organisations like Children's First to
levy from the funding provided an administration fee for the management of services. Once levied, the
administration fee forms part of the organisation's funds to disperse how the Management
Committee⁄Board sees fit.
The review conducted by Community Services showed that the fee levied in this case does appear to be
within the normal range and is not considered excessive.
How an organisation funds and operates its management or administrative expenses is at the discretion of
the Management Committee⁄Board. Control of the activities of the Management Committee⁄Board is a
matter for the Association and its members.
3 SEPTEMBER 2009
(Paper No. 149)
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