Mrs SKINNER (North Shore) [5.15]: I wish to raise matters of serious concern to constituents of the electorate of North Shore and to those who live beyond it but who pass through it daily. I refer to
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traffic, transport and roads. Since my election in 1994 I have consistently highlighted these matters. During the election campaign I highlighted them as major issues. I know I was right in doing so because none other than the Australian Labor Party candidate repeated my assertion. The Australian Labor Party candidate, Linda Voltz, claimed two days before E-day:

Traffic is still the big issue in this electorate.

She said also:

We can't just keep constantly having plans put forward and suggestions and assurances being given without any changes to Spit Junction and public transport. Any plan to improve Spit Junction should go through within 12 months.

She continued:

There is chaos in our transport system with roads clogged to saturation point.

. . .

The traffic on our already choked roads comes at a great social cost before we even consider road maintenance costs. Many residents are frustrated when they or their visitors are unable to find parking after spending long periods in traffic jams or being delayed by constant roadworks.

One does not have to do much polling to learn that traffic and transport are real issues for the people living on the lower north shore. Many of the representations I have made since being elected have related to easier access and increased public transport options, local road access and safety issues. One of the most welcome local announcements, after I brought the problem to the attention of the former Minister, was that a lift would be built at Milsons Point station. I am pleased that the Minister for Transport is at the table. The former Minister realised the problems presented to the people around Milsons Point by the many stairs at the outmoded station. Only yesterday at the launch of North Sydney Council's access guide to North Sydney, I requested the Minister for Disability Services, who was in attendance, to confirm that this project will proceed this year as planned.

That proposal was among many I put to the former Government. But none was more important than the one highlighted by all candidates, including the Australian Labor Party candidate, at the election: long-term transport solutions for the area, the easing of congestion on Spit Road and Military Road, and the return of those roads to the local community. The Labor Party candidate in the electorate of North Shore believed that heavy rail was the way to go. She said, "I know that heavy rail is an expensive option, but that's an option that should be looked at". She soon found out that she was behind the times. Heavy rail was considered as one of six options presented to the people of the north shore and the northern peninsula as part of the work of the Warringah Lower North Shore Urban Strategy Committee. In fact, after extensive consultation the majority of people opted for other solutions, not the conventional rail favoured by the Labor Party candidate. The Labor Party candidate may have got it wrong about the preferred option, but she - indeed all North Shore candidates - agreed we got the issue right.

In government, the coalition had bitten the bullet on this issue. It established the committee I have referred to, which included all affected members of Parliament, representatives of all affected councils and their mayors, representatives of lobby groups and public agencies, and community representatives. The former Government had prepared options and taken them to the community for broad consultation. Thousands of people participated in the consultation process. The coalition had given a firm commitment to solving this problem, and was waiting for the recommendations of the committee as to the best option. My constituents want to know what the Government intends doing about continuing the good work of the Warringah Lower North Shore Urban Strategy Committee. When will the Government provide solutions to the transport and traffic problems experienced by the people in the electorate of North Shore that were so passionately described by the Labor Party's candidate? Will the Minister reassure the people of the electorate of North Shore that he did not mean it when he told Mosman councillors that the Australian Labor Party would not spend any money on improving transport in the district if elected to Government?

Mr LANGTON (Kogarah - Minister for Transport, and Minister for Tourism) [5.19]: I am delighted to hear from the honourable member for North Shore. She is obviously most enamoured of all members of the Labor Party: she seems to like quoting them at great length. Let me assure her that at no stage did I ever make the statement she attributed to me. I totally reject that. If the honourable member listened carefully and took an interest in what was actually happening, she would know what was said both before and after the election. The Government has solutions to the problems of traffic and transport on the north shore and the northern peninsula. Unlike the previous Government, we will do something about it. The Government will not have the section 22 committee meeting endlessly, pouring buckets of money into the pockets of consultants and not reaching a conclusion. The Government will reach a conclusion and find solutions to the traffic problems on the north shore. The Government will implement its solutions. Unlike the previous Government, this Government has positive solutions. I remind the honourable member for North Shore that the coalition lost the election.