BUS TIMETABLES

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (14:49): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. When the minister told the media yesterday that bus companies were responsible for bus timetables, was he aware that the Minister for Transport Services was telling the media that the government is responsible? Who is right?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:50): I thank the member for Bragg for her question. She hasn't actually got the exchange accurate. I said that the companies were responsible for setting the timetables and the minister said the government was. Can I say to the chamber in all humility that the minister was far more accurate in saying that than I was. I congratulate the Minister for Transport Services. Can I just explain how it works because I think that what we are—

An honourable member: It doesn't work.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: It doesn't work—look, you're having a good day, Marty. I've seen some of the results of the preferred leadership and I think you're right back in this mate; you're right back in this. There's a big sunshine gap there—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will return to the substance of the question.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I apologise for responding to interjections. I should not respond to interjections; I apologise.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: A very much wiser person than me once wrote in a book that there is no knowledge without context. What that means is that there is no meaning without context. The context of what I had to say and what the Minister for Transport Services had to say shows that there is no great difference in what we're talking about. What occurs with existing routes, of course, is that we expect new operators to conduct the existing services to those timetables.

What occurs if there is a new service or a changed service is that we would explain to the operator what service we want, the operator would work up how that would be delivered and they would bring it to us, but where the Minister for Transport Services is absolutely correct is that we have the final sign-off. It is us who have the final sign-off. I say the minister is completely accurate in saying that. Of course, the Minister for Transport Services has shown that she has greater acuity and felicity of expression than I have, and what I was fumbling towards in my answer is that there is a discourse and a communication between those operators who do the service and us.

Can I say that this is all necessary because, when the Liberals privatised the service, instead of doing what everyone else did in selling off the buses and keeping the service, they did it the opposite way—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: —which is what has really led to all of these problems.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!