Labor candidate Megal Anwyl's claims about Prospector service 'inexcusable'

14/3/96

Megan Anwyl's comments on the Prospector in the Kalgoorlie Miner on March 13 were inexcusable, even given the heat of an election campaign, Transport Minister Eric Charlton said today.

"Ms Anwyl is a trained lawyer and her comments that I intend to downgrade or close the Prospector service, despite my assurances that this is not the case, must border on defamation," he said.

"If her totally discredited statements are an indication of the degree to which she will blatantly mislead the people of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, then I urge voters to reject her as an acceptable person to represent them.

"Let me clear this issue up so that Kalgoorlie-Boulder residents are not unnecessarily alarmed by Ms Anwyl's assertions.

"I give an absolute assurance that the Prospector train service will be retained and the customer focus will be improved by the Coalition Government.

"Following a representation from the Liberal Party candidate for Kalgoorlie, Karen McGay, I have agreed to conduct a comprehensive survey of passenger services on the Prospector to ensure people's needs are being met.

"Recent changes to timetables and staff arrangements have resulted in a 15 per cent increase in the number of rail users on the Kalgoorlie-Perth link and I am keen to see patronage continue to grow."

The Minister said the Government was committed to encouraging maximum use of Western Australia's public transport system and had made significant improvements to services in country regions and the metropolitan area.

"The improvements to public transport have already produced numerous passenger benefits," he said.

"Even better and more responsive services are being planned and taxpayers will benefit from greater value from their tax dollar.

"I call on Ms Anwyl to recognise these facts and be more responsible in the lead-up to Saturday's by-election."

Media contact: Ian Hasleby 321 7333