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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7072<br />
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS<br />
MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2009<br />
*7415 REQUEST FOR HAZARD REDUCTION—Mr Ray Williams asked the Minister for Planning, and<br />
Minister for Redfern Waterloo representing the Minister for Police, Minister for Lands, and Minister for<br />
Rural Affairs—<br />
With respect to a repeated request by a resident <strong>of</strong> 2700D Bells Line <strong>of</strong> Road, which is a Crown Road<br />
adjoining Bells Line <strong>of</strong> Road, for hazard reduction to be undertaken to the sides <strong>of</strong> her road given the<br />
road is owned by the Government, when will hazard reduction be undertaken to remove the threat <strong>of</strong><br />
bushfire to residents and their homes located on this road?<br />
Answer—<br />
The Land and Property Management Authority consults with RFS and other agencies in the development<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Risk Management Plan for the District. I'm advised that the current circumstances <strong>of</strong> <strong>No</strong>. 2700D<br />
Bells Line <strong>of</strong> Road do not warrant hazard reduction within the Crown public road that provides access to<br />
that property.<br />
*7416 RETENTION OF RAILWAY STAFF—Mr Ray Williams asked the Minister for Transport, and Minister<br />
for the Illawarra—<br />
Regarding the Minister's statement that railway staff will be retained at stations during am and pm peak<br />
periods, what is the explanation for the finalised Rail Corp staff review, which removes all staff from<br />
stations such as Mulgrave and East Richmond during pm periods, which both have numerous<br />
schoolchildren catching trains at these locations who will now be unsupervised and therefore have their<br />
safety jeopardised?<br />
Answer—<br />
I am advised:<br />
The aim <strong>of</strong> RailCorp's station staff review, agreed to by the union as part <strong>of</strong> the 2008 Union Collective<br />
Agreement, is to determine appropriate staffing levels on stations and provide a balance between the<br />
requirements <strong>of</strong> safety, efficiency and customer service, including for those customers with disabilities.<br />
The process for the review <strong>of</strong> staffing levels at station locations is outlined in the 2008 RailCorp Union<br />
Collective Agreement. It takes account <strong>of</strong> the various factors influencing staffing including customer<br />
service needs, passenger numbers, operational needs, the general context <strong>of</strong> the station and its working<br />
environment and efficiency considerations. It includes input from RailCorp management, the relevant<br />
Unions and the station workplace representatives.<br />
*7417 PAYMENT OF BONUS—Mr Ray Williams asked the Minister for Community Services—<br />
Why did Mr Ian Alchin, the Executive Officer <strong>of</strong> Children First Inc, in February 2008, receive $45,000 as<br />
a bonus, apparently made in recognition <strong>of</strong> the time and effort put into ensuring that the new Blacktown<br />
Road Child Care Centre was completed and opened, which bonus was paid from NSW taxpayers' money<br />
through a grant from the NSW Department <strong>of</strong> Community Services for the construction <strong>of</strong> the Child Care<br />
Centre?<br />
Answer—<br />
A formal complaint alleging a bonus payment to Mr Ian Alchin was made to the NSW Office <strong>of</strong> Liquor,<br />
Gaming and Racing which referred the matter to Community Services.<br />
The complaint was investigated including a full review <strong>of</strong> the disbursement <strong>of</strong> funds by Children's First<br />
Inc.<br />
It is customary and permissible under the funding arrangement for organisations like Children's First to<br />
levy from the funding provided an administration fee for the management <strong>of</strong> services. Once levied, the<br />
administration fee forms part <strong>of</strong> the organisation's funds to disperse how the Management<br />
Committee⁄Board sees fit.<br />
The review conducted by Community Services showed that the fee levied in this case does appear to be<br />
within the normal range and is not considered excessive.<br />
How an organisation funds and operates its management or administrative expenses is at the discretion <strong>of</strong><br />
the Management Committee⁄Board. Control <strong>of</strong> the activities <strong>of</strong> the Management Committee⁄Board is a<br />
matter for the Association and its members.<br />
3 SEPTEMBER 2009<br />
(<strong>Paper</strong> <strong>No</strong>. 149)<br />
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