Train Services

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): My question is to the Premier. When was the Premier informed 'last week' that the trains would be shutting down for the test match weekend?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:19): I don't have detail of the time and date; I'm not sure that it's particularly relevant. As I said, the government regrets—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The government regrets the inconvenience. It is unfortunately necessary due to the need to move the operating control centre so that we can accommodate other buildings on that important site for South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: There will be some closures. The closures won't occur right the way throughout the test but on the Saturday and the Sunday. I am absolutely convinced that we have made the right decision. I am quite sure not everybody is satisfied with it. I heard the member for West Torrens saying that this was pandemonium. I don't know what anybody else's definition is, but pandemonium is when all the lights go out for the entire state, not when the state government is embarking upon important maintenance on the rail line. This is where we are at the moment with some of the hyperbole from those opposite.

The reality is that this is inconvenient. We apologise for that inconvenience. We have taken the necessary steps to put the substitute buses in place. We are going to make sure that the frequency of the buses that operate is increased so that we inconvenience the patrons for the very smallest amount of time possible. That's what we have done and, as I said, we apologise for that inconvenience.

The SPEAKER: I hope the test isn’t over by Sunday.