❓ Mr. Trenorden questions the government's delay in finalizing a new pay scale for school bus operators, while Mrs. Roberts deflects blame, citing the previous government's inaction and announcing a task force to address the issue.
AnsweredQoN 434Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOL BUS OPERATORS, NEW PAY SCALE
The previous Government’s Minister for Transport initiated talks with school bus operators about a new pay scale. Those talks were close to completion when the election was called. Given this Government’s delay in completing the deal, which prompted a public rally last week, I ask - (1) Is there provision in the state budget for increased payments? (2) If so, why has the Government not completed the deal for new pay scales? (3) If not, does that mean the Government will continue to delay any deal until the next budget? Mrs ROBERTS
The previous Government’s Minister for Transport initiated talks with school bus operators about a new pay scale. Those talks were close to completion when the election was called. Given this Government’s delay in completing the deal, which prompted a public rally last week, I ask - (1) Is there provision in the state budget for increased payments? (2) If so, why has the Government not completed the deal for new pay scales? (3) If not, does that mean the Government will continue to delay any deal until the next budget? Mrs ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) It is surprising that the National Party has raised this issue. The school bus service system inherited by this Government is a cot case; in fact, there are huge problems. The system has been administered by National Party ministers for the past eight years. School bus operators have been waiting five years for a number of matters to be resolved - for most of that time they were waiting on a National Party minister to sort out the problems - but that did not happen. The previous Government failed to resolve the situation. The system contains a range of inequities that must be resolved. In recognition of that, I have appointed a task force headed by the member for Wanneroo to make recommendations to me. That task force will address the full range of issues, and I expect it to be able to report to me within the next few weeks. For the first time in years, we will be able to make real progress and provide clarity for school bus operators.
(1) Is there provision in the state budget for increased payments? (2) If so, why has the Government not completed the deal for new pay scales? (3) If not, does that mean the Government will continue to delay any deal until the next budget? Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) It is surprising that the National Party has raised this issue. The school bus service system inherited by this Government is a cot case; in fact, there are huge problems. The system has been administered by National Party ministers for the past eight years. School bus operators have been waiting five years for a number of matters to be resolved - for most of that time they were waiting on a National Party minister to sort out the problems - but that did not happen. The previous Government failed to resolve the situation. The system contains a range of inequities that must be resolved. In recognition of that, I have appointed a task force headed by the member for Wanneroo to make recommendations to me. That task force will address the full range of issues, and I expect it to be able to report to me within the next few weeks. For the first time in years, we will be able to make real progress and provide clarity for school bus operators.
(2) If so, why has the Government not completed the deal for new pay scales? (3) If not, does that mean the Government will continue to delay any deal until the next budget? Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) It is surprising that the National Party has raised this issue. The school bus service system inherited by this Government is a cot case; in fact, there are huge problems. The system has been administered by National Party ministers for the past eight years. School bus operators have been waiting five years for a number of matters to be resolved - for most of that time they were waiting on a National Party minister to sort out the problems - but that did not happen. The previous Government failed to resolve the situation. The system contains a range of inequities that must be resolved. In recognition of that, I have appointed a task force headed by the member for Wanneroo to make recommendations to me. That task force will address the full range of issues, and I expect it to be able to report to me within the next few weeks. For the first time in years, we will be able to make real progress and provide clarity for school bus operators.
(3) If not, does that mean the Government will continue to delay any deal until the next budget? Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) It is surprising that the National Party has raised this issue. The school bus service system inherited by this Government is a cot case; in fact, there are huge problems. The system has been administered by National Party ministers for the past eight years. School bus operators have been waiting five years for a number of matters to be resolved - for most of that time they were waiting on a National Party minister to sort out the problems - but that did not happen. The previous Government failed to resolve the situation. The system contains a range of inequities that must be resolved. In recognition of that, I have appointed a task force headed by the member for Wanneroo to make recommendations to me. That task force will address the full range of issues, and I expect it to be able to report to me within the next few weeks. For the first time in years, we will be able to make real progress and provide clarity for school bus operators.
Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) It is surprising that the National Party has raised this issue. The school bus service system inherited by this Government is a cot case; in fact, there are huge problems. The system has been administered by National Party ministers for the past eight years. School bus operators have been waiting five years for a number of matters to be resolved - for most of that time they were waiting on a National Party minister to sort out the problems - but that did not happen. The previous Government failed to resolve the situation. The system contains a range of inequities that must be resolved. In recognition of that, I have appointed a task force headed by the member for Wanneroo to make recommendations to me. That task force will address the full range of issues, and I expect it to be able to report to me within the next few weeks. For the first time in years, we will be able to make real progress and provide clarity for school bus operators.
(1)-(3) It is surprising that the National Party has raised this issue. The school bus service system inherited by this Government is a cot case; in fact, there are huge problems. The system has been administered by National Party ministers for the past eight years. School bus operators have been waiting five years for a number of matters to be resolved - for most of that time they were waiting on a National Party minister to sort out the problems - but that did not happen. The previous Government failed to resolve the situation. The system contains a range of inequities that must be resolved. In recognition of that, I have appointed a task force headed by the member for Wanneroo to make recommendations to me. That task force will address the full range of issues, and I expect it to be able to report to me within the next few weeks. For the first time in years, we will be able to make real progress and provide clarity for school bus operators.
(1) Is there provision in the state budget for increased payments? (2) If so, why has the Government not completed the deal for new pay scales? (3) If not, does that mean the Government will continue to delay any deal until the next budget? Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) It is surprising that the National Party has raised this issue. The school bus service system inherited by this Government is a cot case; in fact, there are huge problems. The system has been administered by National Party ministers for the past eight years. School bus operators have been waiting five years for a number of matters to be resolved - for most of that time they were waiting on a National Party minister to sort out the problems - but that did not happen. The previous Government failed to resolve the situation. The system contains a range of inequities that must be resolved. In recognition of that, I have appointed a task force headed by the member for Wanneroo to make recommendations to me. That task force will address the full range of issues, and I expect it to be able to report to me within the next few weeks. For the first time in years, we will be able to make real progress and provide clarity for school bus operators.
(2) If so, why has the Government not completed the deal for new pay scales? (3) If not, does that mean the Government will continue to delay any deal until the next budget? Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) It is surprising that the National Party has raised this issue. The school bus service system inherited by this Government is a cot case; in fact, there are huge problems. The system has been administered by National Party ministers for the past eight years. School bus operators have been waiting five years for a number of matters to be resolved - for most of that time they were waiting on a National Party minister to sort out the problems - but that did not happen. The previous Government failed to resolve the situation. The system contains a range of inequities that must be resolved. In recognition of that, I have appointed a task force headed by the member for Wanneroo to make recommendations to me. That task force will address the full range of issues, and I expect it to be able to report to me within the next few weeks. For the first time in years, we will be able to make real progress and provide clarity for school bus operators.
(3) If not, does that mean the Government will continue to delay any deal until the next budget? Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) It is surprising that the National Party has raised this issue. The school bus service system inherited by this Government is a cot case; in fact, there are huge problems. The system has been administered by National Party ministers for the past eight years. School bus operators have been waiting five years for a number of matters to be resolved - for most of that time they were waiting on a National Party minister to sort out the problems - but that did not happen. The previous Government failed to resolve the situation. The system contains a range of inequities that must be resolved. In recognition of that, I have appointed a task force headed by the member for Wanneroo to make recommendations to me. That task force will address the full range of issues, and I expect it to be able to report to me within the next few weeks. For the first time in years, we will be able to make real progress and provide clarity for school bus operators.
Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) It is surprising that the National Party has raised this issue. The school bus service system inherited by this Government is a cot case; in fact, there are huge problems. The system has been administered by National Party ministers for the past eight years. School bus operators have been waiting five years for a number of matters to be resolved - for most of that time they were waiting on a National Party minister to sort out the problems - but that did not happen. The previous Government failed to resolve the situation. The system contains a range of inequities that must be resolved. In recognition of that, I have appointed a task force headed by the member for Wanneroo to make recommendations to me. That task force will address the full range of issues, and I expect it to be able to report to me within the next few weeks. For the first time in years, we will be able to make real progress and provide clarity for school bus operators.
(1)-(3) It is surprising that the National Party has raised this issue. The school bus service system inherited by this Government is a cot case; in fact, there are huge problems. The system has been administered by National Party ministers for the past eight years. School bus operators have been waiting five years for a number of matters to be resolved - for most of that time they were waiting on a National Party minister to sort out the problems - but that did not happen. The previous Government failed to resolve the situation. The system contains a range of inequities that must be resolved. In recognition of that, I have appointed a task force headed by the member for Wanneroo to make recommendations to me. That task force will address the full range of issues, and I expect it to be able to report to me within the next few weeks. For the first time in years, we will be able to make real progress and provide clarity for school bus operators.
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