Footy Express

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (15:00): Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Did the Premier secure an agreement with the Stadium Management Authority to continue free Footy Express public transport services while negotiating a $42 million loan arrangement?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (15:01): I thank the member for Lee for the question. Can I say that the two parts of that question that the member was trying to link together simply aren't. We are in negotiations with the Stadium Management Authority about how we make sure we implement Labor's policy of full cost recovery for public transport for all concerts and sporting events where over 5,000 patrons are expected to attend. We continue to implement Labor's policy, and we are in direct negotiations with the Stadium Management Authority at the moment—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: If the member for West Torrens utters those words again or anything like it when the minister is speaking, he will be leaving today.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —and for those who are watching online or those who are watching via the Facebook link, Mr Speaker—

The SPEAKER: Indeed.

The Hon. S.S. Marshall: There were 17 earlier today—mostly in my office and some in yours.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: That's it. I think our mothers might be watching. Can I say this quite clearly—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Yes, totally unacceptable, I agree; I will get to him.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —because there have been those who have sought to muddy the waters: Footy Express services, in the form that they currently exist, will continue next year. People will be able to show their ticket and get on for free, having already paid for the cost of that service as part of their ticket, and will be able to get to AFL games next year in the same way they do now. That will continue, as was always supposed to be the case.

The interesting thing is that, again, the former government was moving towards a trajectory of full cost recovery over a staged year-on-year period. We are essentially seeking to continue that same work. Those negotiations are underway, and I look forward to them being completed in due course and for this very important service to continue into the future.