BUS CONTRACTS

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (15:14): My question is to the Minister for Transport Services. Has the government's decision to appoint a bus operator with no previous experience, contributed to what the minister has described as a 'lousy' bus service? By way of explanation, I refer to the Auditor-General's report which states, and I quote:

...a significant issue that arises is whether the company's inexperience in providing bus services was properly and sufficiently considered...in the procurement process.

The Hon. C.C. FOX (Bright—Minister for Transport Services) (15:15): As you are well aware, I was not part of that procurement process so, effectively, I cannot answer that question. Secondly—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Secondly, there was a second statement you made that I had made a statement saying that they were lousy services. What occurred was that a radio interviewer said to me, 'So commuters will have to put up with lousy services on some routes,' to which I replied, 'Lousy service on some routes,' and I was emphasising the 'some'.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.C. FOX: That is actually important because there are a number of bus routes which have improved since the last fining period and I think it is very important to recognise that a number of operators have been very responsive to the message that we gave them.