Page: 15664
The Hon. PETER BREEN: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Justice, and Minister for Fair Trading, representing the Minister for Transport. Is the Minister aware that since 23 March 2005 newsagents and kiosks that sell bus tickets have had their commission rate reduced from an average 4.7 per cent to a flat 2.5 per cent? Is he aware that State Transit representatives adopted a take-it-or-leave-it approach with selling agents who did not accept the new commission arrangements? Does the Minister agree that if there are fewer agents selling bus tickets, commuters will purchase their tickets on buses, creating long queues and causing buses to run out of timetable order? Will the Minister commit to meeting with the Newsagents Association of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory to ensure that sufficient numbers of newsagents and kiosk owners continue to sell bus tickets in order to prevent chaos on the buses?
The Hon. JOHN HATZISTERGOS: I will refer the matter to the Minister for Transport.