INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AND LAND USE PLAN

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (14:28): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Will the minister update the house about consultation for the Integrated Transport and Land Use Plan?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:28): On 21 October the state government unveiled a detailed blueprint for South Australia’s transport future to support the growth of communities and businesses over the next 30 years. The Integrated Transport and Land Use Plan outlines future priorities for trams, buses, rail, roads, ports, cycling and walking infrastructure. It is the most sophisticated and detailed transport plan ever undertaken in this state's history and lays a foundation for building a stronger South Australia.

The plan was released for consultation, and since that date the responses have been flooding in. Almost 3,000 South Australians have taken the opportunity to provide feedback on the plan. Because of the enormous response the government has decided to extend the consultation period—which was scheduled to end this Friday—until 17 January 2014.

This plan has really captured the imagination of people right across the state, and we want to make the most of that and deliver the best possible finished product. Since we launched the plan on 21 October this year, our community engagement teams have travelled the length and breadth of this state talking to people about how we can make this plan work for them.

South Australians are providing us with invaluable feedback, ideas and insights, and they are genuinely excited by this long-term vision for our state's transport and infrastructure. We have received inputs from members of the community, councils and industry groups. More than 2,300 South Australians have attended engagement events across the state.

We have received about 550 written and electronic submissions which have been lodged, with another 350 online surveys and emails that have been received. It seems everyone wants to be engaged in this plan, except members opposite. I am advised that no member of the opposition has requested a briefing—

Mr GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: Yes, the point of order would be that the—

Mr GARDNER: 98.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I think—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Sir, the question was about consultation.

The SPEAKER: I don't think the minister is responsible to the house for the people who haven't sought consultation.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: You are right, sir. They are not interested and not consulting—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: After a press conference when I detailed—

Mr GARDNER: Point of order, sir—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —that they hadn't made a submission, they ask questions on it.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Transport will be seated. What is the point of order?

Mr GARDNER: The minister is defying your ruling, even though he is on two warnings, sir.

Mrs Geraghty: You people do it all the time.

The SPEAKER: The member for Torrens is called to order. Now, could the Minister for Transport tell the house about people who actually were consulted, as distinct from people who chose not to be part of the consultation?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, sir. The plan is the product of eight months' work by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, government agencies and key industry and advocacy groups. The extension will ensure that South Australians can engage with the government's 30-year vision for public transport infrastructure, even if members opposite don't care; a vision that focuses on delivering people to places and businesses to market, a vision that believes in urban rail, a vision that believes in expanding light rail, and a vision that believes in the north-south corridor. We are proud—

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —to share our vision with the community, because it is a vision that will make this state stronger, better and easier to live and work in. Members opposite have plans; they are just keeping them secret, because they are terrified people might find out what their actual plans are.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Liberal Party soprano, the member for Heysen, is warned for the first time.