RAIL ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:13): My question is to the Minister for Transport. Why did the state government choose to manage and procure all components of the rail electrification project rather than contract one company with relevant experience to oversee the entire project? With your leave and that of the house I will briefly explain. I hope it is not too tiresome, Mr Speaker, but I would like your leave.

The SPEAKER: It is tiresome but in order.

Ms CHAPMAN: Mr Rod Hook told the Public Works Committee last year, and I quote:

There is no experience in South Australia of hanging 25,000 volts in the sky to run train services. There is no experience in our department.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (15:14): There is a bit of confusion between the question and the explanation, Mr Speaker.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It sounds like it, because what Mr Hook is actually saying is that the department was undertaking a radical rethink about the way we deliver public transport in South Australia. Electrified rail is dramatically different from diesel trains. I know that the member opposite was out on Friday asking us to delay the electrification of our rail line along the Noarlunga line, increasing the time for congestion on our roads. She wanted us to keep as many trees as we possibly could because electrification rolling out meant that vegetation was to be cleared back.

The reality is that the department has not, in fact, run electrified rail, from recent memory, in this state until I think we had light rail throughout the city, other than the Glenelg line, but, of course, much earlier than that when there were the electric trams—light rail—throughout inner metropolitan Adelaide. So the department is learning a lot about this.

Of course, the former minister would be better informed than me because he was in charge at the time we rolled out electrification. Mr Rod Hook is absolutely right: the department is on a steep learning curve, and that steep learning curve is because we are rolling out a radical new rethink in the way we deliver public transport in this state. Electrified rail is going to bring all sorts of benefits to consumers in the southern suburbs—

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order, Mr Speaker. As interesting as this is, my question actually was: why did the department keep this project in-house when it clearly didn't have the experience?

The SPEAKER: Alright. Minister for Transport.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I'll get a detailed answer from Mr Rod Hook.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Well, Mr Speaker, if I am argumentative at all when they move points of order—when I tell them that I will get an answer for them they mock. It is obvious: if I float I'm a witch, if I drown I'm guilty.