Mr PHOTIOS: My question is directed to the Minister for Transport, and Minister for Tourism. Was State Transit bus driver Barry Hook, in his fifth attack, robbed, bashed and stabbed with a blood-filled syringe on his bus at Bankstown last year? Was pressure applied by State Transit management to wind up counselling sessions, despite doctors' concerns that Mr Hook was suffering a severe case of post-traumatic stress?

Mr LANGTON: There is no doubt that such incidents are the worst kind of crime. The trauma is ongoing and the fear of a deadly infection compounds the actual assault. In recognition of the severe nature of this kind of crime, harsher penalties were introduced by the Parliament in 1991. I am advised by the State Transit Authority that the bus operator concerned was held up by a person armed with a syringe that was apparently filled with blood; that his cash tray was stolen and in the scuffle he was stabbed with the needle. This is a tragic incident, as the bus operator suffered not only the assault but also the anxiety that the syringe injury could result in his contracting HIV.

I am advised that the State Transit Authority immediately organised trauma counselling, including HIV counselling. I am further advised that the bus operator has been found to be clear of any HIV infection, though understandably he remains stressed. I understand that on his doctor's orders he was working only morning shifts and he is still undergoing trauma counselling. The State Transit Authority further advises me that the bus operator is currently on stress leave. the STA assures me that it will continue to do all it can to assist the bus operator to deal with the trauma and anxiety caused as a result of the assault, including providing ongoing counselling.

Mr Photios: On a point of order. My question related to the pressure applied by the State Transit Authority, outrageous pressure applied by State Transit -

Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order.

Mr LANGTON: I am not sure whether honourable members were listening to the John Laws radio program yesterday, but for the benefit of any who were not I quote from the transcript:

John Laws: You're a grub, Michael, aren't you?

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John Laws went on to describe the honourable member for Ermington as an ego-riddled, ineffectual, power-hungry, manipulative politician.

Mr Hartcher: On a point of order. If the Minister is going to read a quote from the John Laws program, could he also read what John Laws had to say about the Minister for Education and Training? That was extremely edifying and everybody would love to hear it.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order.

Mr Kerr: On a point of order. The Minister is bound by Standing Order 138. The honourable member for Ermington did not interject; he is not entitled to be responded to. The Minister should resume his answer to the question that was asked.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order.

Mr LANGTON: In relation to the question asked by the honourable member for Ermington, if there are any concerns whatsoever about the response of the State Transit Authority to Mr Hook. they will be referred to the Ombudsman for investigation, as part of her current inquiry into the State Transit Authority. The House should be aware that the Government is actively working to improve bus driver safety and passenger security. It is working to implement important measures recommended by safety specialists in March 1996, including security awareness, training for bus drivers, increased police patrols of buses, enhanced security-incident reports to improve police intelligence and response to security incidents, and crime prevention audits of known trouble spots.