Rail Maintenance

Mr DULUK (Davenport) (16:00): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister please outline why essential maintenance work that closed the Belair line over the Christmas holiday period has failed to address the ongoing issues with the Glenalta and Blackwood boom gates, which have already been stuck on several occasions this year?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (16:01): I thank the member for Davenport for his question. I know he has expressed an interest in this area. As part of the most recent state budget, a figure of $12 million was provided to upgrade some of the signalling infrastructure and equipment across the metropolitan passenger rail network line. There is a system underway of progressively undertaking those works.

My understanding, although I am happy to come back to the house with some further detail, is that that program is being based upon an analysis of the priority of undertaking those works, and doing those works at those locations where they are most needed, perhaps as a direct reflection on the condition of some of the equipment which needs to be replaced under the program. So, I will take the timing of those works, if they are part of the program, on notice and come back to the member.