Seaford Rail Line

Mr WINGARD (Mitchell) (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Given that the first breakage of the high-voltage electric wire near Honeypot Road on the Seaford rail line was 12 months ago, did the minister see the report or receive a briefing on the metallurgical investigation ordered by his department to determine the cause of the faults, and what conclusions did he follow from that report?

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) (15:05): I thank the member for Mitchell for his question. I know he continues his keen interest in this matter. I think I referred yesterday, and I can't quite recall whether I said it in the chamber or in a radio interview that the member for Mitchell and I were jointly doing, that after the first occurrence of the cable parting in June of last year a full line inspection was done. I mentioned that after the line inspection, and given the cable had parted, it was thought to be a problem with the installation, and in fact there have been references to the installation of the line and whether it was welded appropriately.

Given that no further faults were found at that inspection, it was thought by the department that it was likely to be, at that point in time, an isolated incident. So, after that particular matter was dealt with, it was repaired and services were restored. It hasn't been until the subsequent line issue that a further full inspection of the line was undertaken and further problems, not just relating to the one that has been identified as causing the issue for the outage on I think it was 15 May, were determined, and a section of wire has been identified to be replaced.

I appreciate the concern, and I think it is a natural concern, that this happened approximately a year ago and yet it has recurred and why the issue we have suffered in the last two weeks wasn't previously identified. But I am advised that it has only been from the subsequent occurrence of the parting of the line in proximity to Christie Downs that further issues have been identified with the cable.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Is that part of your policy development? How's that going? Have you got one yet? No, I didn't think so.