Mount Barker Transport Infrastructure Advisory Committee

Mr GOLDSWORTHY (Kavel) (14:51): I am glad I have got the call, Mr Speaker, after that contribution. My question is to the Minister for Transport. Following on from my question on 29 November last year, can the minister advise when the Mount Barker transport infrastructure advisory committee will be established, given that I asked a similar question on that date and the minister said he would get back to me? I don't think I have heard back yet.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:51): Perhaps I have been confused, Mr Speaker. I was dealing with the local member, but of course what it has turned out is that I was dealing with the local federal member and dealing with all the transport issues that she's been raising with me, including making sure that we improve transport options not just to the Mount Barker area. In fact, I was only, a couple of weekends ago, down on the Fleurieu Peninsula talking about the improvement to bus services, which the member for Mayo had long advocated for. We were able to announce a couple of options for those services.

Mr GARDNER: Point of order: this information is not relevant to the establishment of the Mount Barker transport infrastructure advisory committee, which was in the question.

The SPEAKER: I will listen carefully. I think the minister can join up his remarks.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Yes, indeed, Mr Speaker. Throughout the course of meeting with Ms Sharkie and speaking about the transport improvements that she is seeking for her electorate, notwithstanding that I was speaking about the improvements to transport services she has been directly responsible for agitating for the Fleurieu Peninsula, we were also discussing the improvement of transport services that might be possible for Mount Barker.

Members would be aware that there have been some improvements to transport services in Mount Barker. I am particularly thinking about the opening to the park-and-ride that we made at I think it was Demar Street—

Mr Gardner: Dumas.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Dumas, is it? Alexandre Dumas, who wrote that book?

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Yes, that's a cracker, that one; it's one of my favourites. Then, of course, we also not only increased bus services but we introduced the double-decker bus service on the 8.40 service, I think it was, which travels between Mount Barker and Adelaide and returns again.

So, you can understand that, in the course of delivering public transport improvements to the Mount Barker region, and in the course of dealing with a very vocal, strong advocate for their local community, who is also a local member, I might be excused a slip between getting back to the local federal member rather than the local state member, and I have to say, Mr Speaker, it is a rare occurrence to hear from the member for Kavel. It is a rare occurrence.

Mr GARDNER: Point of order, Mr Speaker: debate.

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader.