House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2) 51 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Train Derailment TRAIN DERAILMENT Mr HAMILTON-SMITH House of Assembly Waite Leader of the Opposition TRAIN DERAILMENT Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:54): My question is again to the Minister for Transport. Has the government now established the cause of the train derailment on 27 September 2007 and what disciplinary action, if any, has been taken as a result of the accident? The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly Elder Minister for Transport Minister for Infrastructure Minister for Energy TRAIN DERAILMENT The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy) (14:54): I have an interim report on that matter. I will see whether it has been finalised. The Leader of the Opposition labours under a number of massive misapprehensions, including the notion that somehow I am involved in disciplinary matters of TransAdelaide employees. I am not and it would be absolutely improper if I were. Mr Williams interjecting: The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: The member for MacKillop says I should be. Mr Williams interjecting: The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: No, that is what you said. Don't back away from it now. That is what you— Mr Williams House of Assembly Mr Williams: You're not responsible for anything. The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I'm responsible for keeping you on that side, Mitch. Three of you joined parliament at the same time; three of those Independents. There was the member— Mr Koutsantonis House of Assembly Mr Koutsantonis: The honourable minister. The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Sorry, the honourable Minister for Water Security, the honourable Minister for Forests and the shadow spokesperson for something. An honourable member interjecting: The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Well, I do not do that. I will find out the status of it. My understanding of interim reports I have had is that it was to do with some loose equipment on a piece of rail. I will get an interim report, but understand that your government actually set up a governance structure for TransAdelaide that created a board and a general manager. It's not appropriate— An honourable member interjecting: The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I'm not saying it is the board's fault; I am just telling you that, unlike you, I like to have a quaint little attachment to obeying the laws of the land, and your board is created in legislation. Your legislation—it is a law of the land. Mr Williams House of Assembly Mr Williams: If you didn't like it, you've had five years. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I have to say, Alexander Downer is a much more— Mr Williams interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order, the member for MacKillop! The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: —polite person, too, than these people. The Hon. J.D. Hill House of Assembly The Hon. J.D. Hill: He's very well bred. The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Yes, well bred, well raised—a much nicer person. In fact, he is not only an intelligent debater, he was quite urbane today, I thought. I think in another life we could be friends. We have a great deal in common. Just understand this— The Hon. K.O. Foley House of Assembly The Hon. K.O. Foley: What have you got in common? The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: He does at least understand a good wine, and that is something that I think is very important in a thoroughly modern gentleman. I will get you a report on the disciplinary action. I do not seek them myself because that is a role for the appropriate person. Could you imagine the question I would get if I got a tram driver into my office saying, 'You're in trouble, son. I'm docking your pay. I'm sacking you.' Mate, that is the way the federal opposition treats workers, not the way I treat workers. But just so that people understand— The Hon. M.J. Atkinson House of Assembly The Hon. M.J. Atkinson: No, no, they are still in government. The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Sorry, the federal opposition in waiting; let's make sure we get that right. An honourable member House of Assembly An honourable member: The alternate opposition. The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: The alternate opposition. I will get a report on the disciplinary matter, but I will not interfere with it and I will not oversee it— Ms Chapman House of Assembly Ms Chapman: Because no-one will have it. The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: All I can say is that I will get a report, but please, bring on Alex.