Mr BAYLEY - Minister, I want to continue the theme about vulnerable users. We know there is a range of bus stops across Tasmania that are non-compliant with the federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992. We have been informed by stakeholders that there has been a conversation and a negotiation going on between Government and councils, for example, about a funding package to upgrade those bus stops to make them compliant with the legislation. We're informed that you are putting conditions on the provision of that funding that those councils must take over ownership and therefore long-term responsibility for that asset.
Minister, can you tell us how many of these bus stops are non-compliant with the DDA? Is it the case that the money you are offering is contingent on a transfer of ownership? Why aren't you willing to shoulder the responsibility for these bus stops, invest the money in fixing them up so that our vulnerable users can actually catch a bus?
Mr FERGUSON - Mr Bayley, thank you for your question. I don't have briefing material on that subject at the committee today. This is an initiative of mine in my role as minister with the Department of State Growth, it's not confined to Metro. I appreciate you bringing it forward. We're providing $ 10 million of taxpayer funding support to bus stops and shelters; bus stops to help them become Disability Discrimination Act compliant and bus shelters so that we can give people better respite from poor weather. In a state like Tasmania, we want to provide people some respite from rain and wind, particularly in those places where people are waiting for buses to go into population centres, not necessarily on the way outbound.
Mr BAYLEY - Has any of that money been spent?
Mr FERGUSON - Yes. I could provide that to you. I am not equipped for it today but we are now in round two of that program.
Mr BAYLEY - I can put it on notice.
Mr FERGUSON - There are conditions for it. The partner in delivery here is local government. I inform you and the committee that local government is responsible for bus stops and shelters on roads that they own and manage. The Government is providing a means by which councils can get support to meet their responsibilities. There are conditions.
Mr BAYLEY - Is that contentious? Do councils accept that?
Mr FERGUSON - Some councils do. Some don't.
Mr BAYLEY - We're informed that you're withholding funding to actually upgrade those bus stops on the condition that councils assume responsibility. Is that the case?
Mr FERGUSON - Yes, it is. There are conditions to receive that funding to help local government with its own responsibilities and some councils have been very enthusiastic about applying for and quite comfortable meeting the terms and conditions. That's the advice I have from the department-
Mr BAYLEY - What are you going to do if councils don't want to accept that long-term responsibility? Will those bus stops just sit there non-compliant in perpetuity, or will you step -
Mr FERGUSON - That would be a matter for you to perhaps ask the local council you have in your mind about that. All councils are encouraged to apply and many are quite comfortable applying for it. I think it's funding support for up to 50 per cent of the cost of what is ordinarily a council responsibility day-to-day already and many councils, particularly in our city areas, are being very responsive here, and increasingly country councils as well.
Mr BAYLEY - What about the ones on state roads?
Mr FERGUSON - We fully take responsibility for the ones that are on state corridors and are a state responsibility, so we don't ask councils to contribute towards those.
