Mr GREG WARREN (Campbelltown) (12:19): I am delighted to make a brief contribution to debate on the Transport Administration Amendment Bill 2024. During my contribution I will refer to the importance of active transport and the benefit that it brings for communities and, indeed, a healthy society. Before I do that, I acknowledge the efforts of the Minister for Transport and her team in bringing the bill before the House today. She has taken a very progressive, proactive and reformist approach to her portfolio, along with her team and the Parliamentary Secretary, the member for Coogee, who is also actively engaged in reforming a system that desperately needed reform. For the purpose of my contribution, the bill states:

The object of this Bill is to amend theTransport Administration Act 1988 (thePrincipal Act) as follows—

(a)to enable Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to promote active transport and improve the activation of public spaces,

(b)to convert the Transport Asset Holding Entity of New South Wales (TAHE) into the Transport Asset Manager New South Wales (TAM) and provide for TAM's functions.

I will refer to the Transport Asset Holding Entity as TAHE and the Transport Asset Manager as TAM. At the end of the day, the bill is to put in place long‑overdue central reforms to ensure that we are developing an optimal model for the delivery of transport services in New South Wales, whilst also providing for focused and strategic asset management and assurance. TAHE will be overhauled and the establishment of TAM will ensure that we optimise and maximise the full potential within active transport and throughout the transport network to make sure that it is fit for purpose.

With the indulgence of the House, I advise that I recently had the privilege of representing the transport Minister in the Picton. I joined the wonderful member for Wollondilly at the opening of a park in the area. It was a great example of the State Government collaborating with local government to develop an area of land into an active transport space. Communities, local families and local residents can utilise that space not only to actively transport from one area to another but also to do a bit of exercise along the way. It is an exciting innovation. I commend the member for Wollondilly, who played a pivotal role in establishing that park during her time with council, which is coming to a close for her shortly. That is one example of the Government working well with all stakeholders. There are no better and stronger stakeholders than the local government sector when it comes to active transport.

That example highlights the other opportunities in and around all of our communities. My own electorate has the Nepean River and the Georges River, which provide opportunities to be out in the environment using active transport modes to get from one place to another and to do a bit of physical fitness and get out and about. I note that my good friend the member for Camden, along with the Mayor of Camden, Councillor Ashleigh Cagney, opened an active transport area, which includes machines for people to do exercises along the way. Like the Camden electorate, the Campbelltown electorate has a rich Aboriginal history that we are very proud of. We also have a rich colonial history that goes back to Lachlan Macquarie and John Macarthur and Elizabeth Macarthur. We have a good story to tell in my region and the best way to tell it is to show people. The Government is committed to telling those stories by providing spaces for active transport as well as resources to keep fit and be active.

This is one of many reforms that the Government is putting in place. It is a welcomed change to the Act. I commend the Minister for Transport who has taken a progressive, reformist, front-foot approach. She lets nothing stand in her way to ensure that she achieves the Government's agenda. We are committed to ensuring that we are doing everything we can to put in place active transport resources. We are making all the changes that we can. To conclude—like I said, this a brief contribution—it is important to take the opportunity to highlight the significance of active transport and commend the Minister for taking a reformist, progressive and proactive approach in achieving not only the Government's agenda but also better spaces for communities across New South Wales. I thank the House.