PUBLIC TRANSPORT TICKETING

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:16): My question is to the Minister for Transport Services. Can the minister inform the house about the trial of the smart card equipment in the Adelaide Hills buses?

The Hon. C.C. FOX (Bright—Minister for Transport Services) (15:16): In February last year, the state government announced we would be replacing our 24-year old—

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The Hon. C.C. FOX: It is quite interesting, and this is part of my answer, that, every single time my title is referred to, the leader says, 'minister for bus timetables'.

Mr PENGILLY: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Order! What is your point of order, member for Finniss?

Mr PENGILLY: I suggest, once again, relevance.

The SPEAKER: No, I do not uphold that point of order because I think she is answering the question as she chooses. Minister, can you get back to the question?

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Every single time this particular portfolio is referred to by the leader, it seems to be in a way that shows utter contempt for every single commuter in this state.

Mr PENGILLY: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Point of order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr PENGILLY: Perhaps I will try debate this time.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. Minister, can you get back to the substance of the question? I will uphold that point of order.

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Of course. The new smart card that I was discussing before I discussed the other thing will be called metrocard, which will be introduced from next year—

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.C. FOX: She's at it again—will be introduced from next year in time for the electrification—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Madam Speaker!

The SPEAKER: Could the members on my left stop being rude to the Minister for Transport and listen quietly? Your behaviour is disgraceful today. I don't know whether you had too much brandy in your Christmas pudding, but you will behave.

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister for Transport Services, I will try to hear you now.

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The metrocard will be used on all buses, trams and trains by simply touching the pre-paid card to a validator as passengers board. It makes an excellent noise. It goes 'bing'.

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon interjecting:

The Hon. C.C. FOX: It does. It is a machine that goes 'bing', Madam Speaker. It can be topped up or recharged with credit at selected retail outlets, vending machines on trains and trams, and online. As the metrocards are introduced, multitrips will gradually be phased out. Single and day trip tickets will remain. I am very pleased to announce that we have now installed smart card ticketing equipment on all Adelaide Hills buses following the successful trial on 11 of those buses. The new dual validators, which can validate current magnetic tickets and metrocards, have now been rolled out to all 65 buses operating in Mount Barker and surrounding areas. The new machines allow passengers to validate their normal tickets until the metrocards are introduced from 2012.

The trial will assist in a smooth transition. The trial is part of an ongoing intense testing program to make sure the equipment works perfectly. The Hills buses will continue to be monitored into the New Year, at which point we will start installing the metrocard ticketing system onto other buses, trams and trains. We will spend $42 million on the system, which has been developed by the Xerox company, Affiliated Computer Services. The technology has already proven to be successful in Europe, Great Britain, Canada and the United States.