Opposition Statement: Nolan should apologise for ‘plain stupid’ comment

[ozbob]

http://www.fionasimpson.com.au/Pages/Article.aspx?ID=634

Nolan should apologise for 'plain stupid' comment

Thursday, 7 January 2010

Bligh Labor Transport Minister Rachel Nolan should apologise for calling commuters having difficulties with the controversial go card system "plain stupid".

LNP Transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said the apparent brain snap from the gaffe-prone Minister showed once again she was not up to the demands of her portfolio.

"Quite frankly, I am disgusted by the absolute contempt the Minister is showing for commuters who are struggling to come to terms with her mismanaged, bungled system.

"If the feedback I am receiving is anything to go by, some people who rely on South East Queensland's public transport system are uncomfortable with the new technology and they will need some time to adjust.

"For the Minister to label these people "plain stupid" is simply arrogant.

"Minister Nolan has already admitted there have been about 13,500 go card reader faults — it is clear user-error is not to blame for all of the problems.

"It's time the Minister stopped hiding behind public servants while insulting commuters and got on with her job of delivering a working public transport system."

[ozbob]

If is fair to note that the Ministers Office did clarify the statement as being out of context.  A correction was published on the Courier Mail web site which read:

(The following paragraph has been changed due to an error in an earlier version of this story.)

She said there would be no amnesty for new go card users, adding that the idea of a complete amnesty was "plain stupid".

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26560477-952,00.html

[Nightwriter]

Cynically, I wonder if it was actually said (slip of the tongue) and the Minister's office is now in damage control.

[longboi]

It's hard to tell because The Courier Mail isn't exactly the bastion of informative, well-researched journalism.

[Nightwriter]

Unfortunately, nikko, that is very very true

[dwb]

They take digital recordings with them... they would have only made the changes, after if listening to the tape they had got it wrong.