House of Assembly: Wednesday, June 03, 2015

Contents

Seaford Rail Line

Mr WINGARD (Mitchell) (14:54): Supplementary: did Laing O'Rourke tender for the maintenance contract as well, and was it a single tender contract or has it just been the supply contract rolled over and a handshake deal?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning, Minister Assisting the Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:54): My experience of time both working for government ministers and as a minister is that these arrangements aren't reached by handshake. Can I just point that out to start with.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Perhaps you can add that to the rapid response team in coming up with some policies.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Did you shake some hands on the way in for that yesterday, did you? What a great announcement—only 18 months too late. My understanding, as I outlined earlier, is that we had a major works contract for the delivery of the electrification of the line and it is that major works contract, not the maintenance contract, under which these works will be rectified.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: I am advised they are differentiated. One was a contract to deliver a new piece of infrastructure which included the catenary wire, which has been the subject of this issue, and under that major works contract for that infrastructure project is how this fault will be rectified.