To begin with, better late than never, and I’m pleased to see that Albo has finally called a Royal Commission into the Bondi terror attack. I believe it was ultimately the strong support of swimming legend Dawn Fraser that proved the clincher. Albo was incredibly stupid to hold out for so long.

The terms of reference seem reasonable, and we all wait with bated breath to see whether Albo’s pick for commissioner, former High Court judge Virginia Bell, who has immaculate Labor credentials, will run a genuine “seek the truth” Royal Commission or attempt to steer it in a direction the government prefers. I hope, for all our sakes, it is the former.

Everything needs to be on the table, no matter how unpalatable it may be for some members of the government or for certain groups in our community. A well-conducted Royal Commission can lead to meaningful outcomes that allow us all to move forward. A sham inquiry, however, would be an insult to the national and a betrayal of the 15 Australians who died at Bondi due to the actions of two hate-filled Islamic extremists.

I like taking ACTION buses and was therefore very disappointed to learn that the popular R2 (Fyshwick to Fraser) and R3 (Airport to Spence) rapid transit routes will, from February this year, terminate at the Belconnen interchange. Why this is happening is beyond me. I have heard all sorts of excuses, from the need to avoid the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge (helpful hint, Mr Steele, that’s nowhere near West Belconnen) to explanations somehow involving the tram.

I regularly take the R2, using the park and ride from Kippax to Civic and beyond. By the time you read this, I will have taken that bus from Macgregor to the Kingston railway station to travel to Sydney, and I will be taking it back from the station to Macgregor when I return. It’s a short walk from my place to the stop. I also usually take the bus into Civic to go to court or to meet friends for a few beers.

The bus is full most weekdays between the Belconnen interchange and Kippax during peak hours, and even outside peak times it usually carries quite a few passengers. It’s popular with students travelling past UC, the ANU and CIT Bruce, and it also stops near the old Calvary Hospital. There have always been passengers on board whenever I get on at my Macgregor stop.

I was talking to the local member for Ginninderra, Peter Cain, the other day and told him I had heard that local Greens member Jo Clay has a petition calling on the ACT Government to keep the R2 and R3 routes as they are. The people of West Belconnen need this rapid transit service left alone and not interfered with.

Peter Cain said the Liberals support Jo Clay on this issue. As there are nine Liberals and four Greens in the Assembly, they have the numbers to force the government to back down if it refuses to listen, and they should use those numbers if necessary.

I hope common sense prevails and these two important services for the people of West Belconnen are kept as they are. In the meantime, I urge readers to sign Jo Clay’s petition.