AAMI STADIUM

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:43): My question is again to the Premier. Can the Premier rule out the building of public transport infrastructure to AAMI Stadium at West Lakes? On 26 February 2008, in answer to a question regarding the provision of public transport infrastructure to bring AAMI Stadium, West Lakes to FIFA World Cup standards, the Premier said:

If you think it is smart to build rail...ahead of time, before we win the bid, then you are not qualified to be the premier of South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy) (14:44): I can indicate that we have had tremendous success with the changes to public transport to AAMI Stadium in terms of the free buses we have put on. There has been a dramatic growth in patronage to the stadium.

The Hon. K.O. Foley: It is twenty-one per cent, I am told.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Yes. Well, it is carrying 21 per cent. I think it's actually more than a 150 or 200 per cent growth in the people being carried on those buses. What I can rule out is the proposition of the opposition's spokesperson on transport that we should electrify long haul rail in South Australia, including the Port Lincoln line. I think it is about 3,700 kilometres of long haul line and, at a 2006 cost of $750,000 a kilometre, that brings us to about $2.6 billion. But, of course, if we take it to 2008 dollars, it would be about $4 billion. But then, of course, you have to put the electricity there, the 275 kV lines, and we add about another $4 billion to bring it up to $8 billion. I did get a call from the Port Lincoln—

Ms CHAPMAN: I take a point of order. This is a specific question in relation to road transport to AAMI Stadium.

The Hon. K.O. Foley interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I uphold the point of order. The minister will turn to the substance of the question.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I got confused about what I wanted to rule out. What I can say, there would be one small problem to add to that, that is, what would they do when they get to the border when the poles and wires run out? They grind to a halt.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order. The minister is clearly defying your ruling and continuing on that subject.

The SPEAKER: Indeed. Order! The minister will turn to the substance of the question or we will move on to the next question. The Minister for Transport has finished? The member for MacKillop.