TRANSPORT, SENIORS CARDS

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (15:00): My question is again to the Minister for Transport Services. When South Australian Seniors Card holders catch free public transport between 9am and 3pm on weekdays, is it the scheduled time of arrival or the actual time of arrival that determines whether that trip is free? The opposition received a complaint from a Seniors Card holder whose bus, which was due before 3pm, arrived after 3pm and the senior was required to pay the fare.

The Hon. C.C. FOX (Bright—Minister for Transport Services) (15:00): I thank the member for Goyder for his question.

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: How much free transport did they get under the Libs?

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Yes, the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure muses: how much free transport did the people in question receive under the last Liberal government? I think the answer would be: none. We, of course, introduced that particular free service. As I understand it, it is the time of boarding which should be taken into account.

Mr Griffiths interjecting:

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Indeed. I have had a similar issue raised with me by one of my own constituents. We went to the private operator in question and their answer to me on that particular matter—and, obviously, I do not know the specifics of the person the member is talking about—was that the bus driver should have had the discretion to realise that, because his service was late, he should have made the call to make sure that—

The Hon. G. Portolesi: Common sense.

The Hon. C.C. FOX: It was common sense, and it was courtesy. That is what I would expect. Now that the member has raised this particular matter and it is obviously not just my constituent, I would appreciate it if, perhaps afterwards, you could tell me about your particular person's instance and we can chase it up.

I think it is very easy to say, 'You can't fix this, you can't fix this,' but, through the kind of conversations that we are having now—and they are conversations—we can go through these things incident by incident. I am quite happy to do that. That's what I am paid for. That's why I am here.