House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Bus Contracts BUS CONTRACTS Ms CHAPMAN House of Assembly Bragg 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 House of Assembly Bright Minister for Transport Services BUS CONTRACTS 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 House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. C.C. FOX House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. C.C. FOX House of Assembly 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.