CAR PARKING LEVY

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:05): Supplementary.

The SPEAKER: If indeed it is a supplementary.

Ms CHAPMAN: I know that you will listen carefully, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: As always.

Ms CHAPMAN: Premier, as you have indicated that there is a wait and see policy, how can you justify to the people of South Australia a claim that this new tax will get people out of their cars and onto public transport, if you have got not one demonstrable piece of data on this wait and see policy?

The SPEAKER: Yes, I think we've got the idea. The Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (15:06): One pretty apparent and demonstrable piece of data is that some people will be actually going to park-and-ride facilities that take advantage of free services. The tram that goes into the city from the Entertainment Centre I think is one obvious example where people will no doubt take advantage of the opportunities that exist to take advantage of those relatively more attractive and convenient arrangements to go to a park-and-ride facility, to have the advantage of their car so that they can have a range of choices to drop their kids off at school, get to the park-and-ride facility and then go on the free transport into the city, which many will take advantage of.

That will not actually find its expression in any particular revenue effect, except to the extent that it increases usage in those particular areas and may create some future pressure for us to increase those services. Presumably there will be some unders and overs about the way in which this plays itself out. There may be some increased usage in some areas. Some of the increased usage will come from people who presumably will need to be supported in concessions and other ways. They are things that will be monitored over time, but remember this is a tax where we are still consulting. We have had something like 40 submissions in relation to the arrangements. We are considering those carefully. We will design the arrangement. It will be implemented from 1 July next year and we will reflect upon its effect.