Public Transport Safety

The Hon. HELEN SHAM-HO: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Mineral Resources, and Minister for Fisheries, representing the Minister for Transport, and Minister for Roads. I refer the Minister to an article in the Daily Telegraph of Thursday 4 June entitled "Tourist Loses Sight". Is the Minister aware that a tourist travelling by train between Blacktown and Doonside in New South Wales was blinded after a rock was hurled through a train carriage window? Is the Minister also aware that last year a truck driver was killed when concrete was thrown from an overpass at Menangle Park through his windscreen? In view of these dangerous incidents, what will the Minister do to ensure the safety of the people of New South Wales travelling on the roads and those travelling by public transport, especially the potential danger to the many tourists who will be travelling on our roads and who will be using public transport during the Olympic Games?

The Hon. E. M. OBEID: I thank the honourable member for drawing this incident to my attention and to the attention of this House. It would be a matter for concern if tourists or any Australian travelling on either of the public transport systems referred to by the honourable member were to face such a situation. I am sure that my colleague in the other House the Hon. Carl Scully will be more than concerned about this matter. I will seek an answer to the honourable member’s question as soon as possible.