PLANNING, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEPARTMENT STAFF

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:29): Can the Minister for Transport Services inform the house about staff from the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure travelling on public transport and providing feedback about it?

An honourable member: The buses were late.

The Hon. C.C. FOX (Bright—Minister for Transport Services) (14:30): Ah, the Kyle Sandilands of the South Australian parliament. I thank the member for this question. We now have more than 100 brand-new buses. Several railway stations have been upgraded and the Belair line has been rebuilt, along with half the Noarlunga and Gawler lines.

The people who make this happen are the hardworking staff in the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. We value their feedback, and it is time that we were a bit more active in seeking it. That is why I am pleased to announce that, on 9 December, the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure staff will be offered free public transport to and from work. The proposed initiative aims to encourage—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.C. FOX: —DPTI metropolitan staff to think about public transport as an option to travel to and from work and experience the services that they work hard to deliver. As part of this initiative, DPTI will seek honest feedback from its staff about on-time running, reliability and quality of the state's public transport services. Staff will also be surveyed to gauge existing travel behaviours, including how many staff currently catch public transport to and from work and reasons why staff choose not to catch public transport. To ensure regional DPTI staff are included in this initiative, we are also offering staff one free round trip on metropolitan public transport, which will be valid until the end of the year. I think I heard—and I may be wrong because I was concentrating—

Mr Griffiths interjecting:

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Were you saying something about how much it would cost?

Mr Griffiths interjecting:

The Hon. C.C. FOX: You were? Shall I tell you? I think I shall. I hear, I respond; I am listening. It is the way of the future. The cost to DPTI for this exercise will be minimal. If all of DPTI staff choose to travel on 9 December, the exercise will cost approximately $16,000. It is worth noting that an audit or a survey of this magnitude would actually cost—

Mr Griffiths: GST and FBT inclusive, is it?

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Come on, let me finish. I am answering the question. It is worth noting that an audit or survey of this magnitude would actually cost DPTI in the vicinity of $100,000, so we are getting the same service for $16,000.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!