Rugby League Grand Final Transport

About this Item
Speakers - Moss Mr Kevin; Scully Mr Carl
Business - Questions Without Notice

RUGBY LEAGUE GRAND FINAL TRANSPORT

Mr MOSS: I ask a question without notice of the Minister for Transport, and Minister for Roads. As a proud Canterbury supporter, I would like to know what public transport arrangements the Government has put in place for this weekend’s rugby league grand final.

Mr SCULLY: I thank the honourable member for Canterbury for asking this important and appropriate question. I am pleased to inform the House that the State Government and the National Rugby League have combined to develop a LeagueLink ticket so that fans will be able to use public transport to travel to the grand final, and leave their cars at home - no parking, no fuss, and at no cost. Supporters going to see the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs take on the Brisbane Broncos for the 1998 National Rugby League premiership on Sunday can get a free ride from anywhere in the CityRail network to central station. From there, special LeagueLink Sydney Buses shuttle services will take them to the big game at Sydney Football Stadium. An important question is: what will be the colour of those buses? Blue and white! To use LeagueLink - the honourable member for Canterbury has been calling it BulldogLink - supporters simply have to show their match tickets on CityRail services and on Sydney Buses from central.

Mr Hazzard: What about the ferries from the north side? Have you forgotten again?

Mr SCULLY: Where were you when we launched the Anne Sergeant, you miserable sod? Anne Sergeant, that great netball player and leader in that team sport, was recognised by the launch of a new HarbourCat. Here was the Government doing the right thing and providing additional ferry services, but where was the honourable member for Wakehurst? The honourable member for Myall Lakes got $6 million for a link line to Gloucester yet has the gall to whinge to the media that I did not invite him to the opening. Why would I? I would like some appreciation from him for the $6 million that he got. He should ask some of his colleagues how well they have done. LeagueLink will get the fans home again, too. Buses will travel to the game in priority bus lanes to ensure that the trip is fast and convenient. With more than 40,000 footy fanatics expected to attend this sellout match, public transport is definitely the way to go. And not a Liberal voter amongst them!

Mr Hazzard: I will be there.

Mr SCULLY: You would vote Labor? Are you sure you are not confused? For those unable to catch the train, there is a convenient "park ‘n’ ride" scheme allowing fans to park their cars in a parking station at a special $2.50 all-day rate. "Park ‘n’ ride" will operate from the Wilson car parking station at the corner of Goulburn and Elizabeth streets, avoiding the crowds at the ground. Fans will be able to catch the frequent fast shuttle bus to the game, again for free. If they present their match ticket upon entry to or exit from the parking station, all they will have to pay is $2.50. Travel on State Transit Authority shuttle buses from the car park is free on presentation of the Wilson parking ticket. I think my colleagues would have to agree that this is an excellent package, developed by the Government in co-operation with the National Rugby League.

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I congratulate the National Rugby League and especially its chief executive, Neil Whittaker, on its efforts to promote the use of public transport for this very special event. The Minister for Sport and Recreation would join with me in extending congratulations, because she knows the great work that the National Rugby League has done to develop this concept. I want to encourage everyone who goes to the game to hop on a train or a bus. I think we would all agree it was a phenomenal game of rugby league last weekend. I share the disappointment of the honourable member for Parramatta. I don’t know what Mossy did to get Canterbury up, but we in Parramatta were not impressed. As a supporter of the Eels for many years, I was a bit disappointed. Up 18-2 with 10 minutes to go, Parramatta were down 32-20 after extra time!

Mr Phillips: On a point of order. The Footy Show is on Thursday night, not today.

Mr SCULLY: The score was 32-20 after extra time. That goes to show that you cannot guarantee the numbers, can you Kerry? The lesson for the Bulldogs -

[Interruption]

There we go - the full-time siren is about to blow. The message for the Leader of the Opposition is "Never say die!" Like every red-blooded New South Welshman I will be backing the Sydney side to beat the blokes from Brisbane. My money is on Kerry and the Bulldogs. That is where my money is going. I think we want to hear about the other five seconds of the grand final. I wish you all well; enjoy the final game of the season.

Questions without notice concluded.

Last modified 05/12/2007 16:29:34 : Update this page