Service SA

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:00): My question is to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning. What precipitated the move of responsibility for Service SA from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure? Was the decision to close Modbury, Prospect and Mitcham offices made prior to that transfer of responsibility? If those closures go ahead, how many more metropolitan offices will be in danger of closing, or has that decision already been made?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (15:00): There are a number of components to that question.

The SPEAKER: There are.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: So 1 July last year was when Service SA was transferred back from Department of the Premier and Cabinet to my department. That decision was made because a lot of the transactions that are actually undertaken at Service SA centres relate back to regulation that I have carriage for. In fact, there is a lot of interaction between DPTI and Service SA in relation to how those things need to operate. It makes eminent sense that under the machinery of government changes that that was to occur.

In relation to decisions made about centres, those decisions were made as part of the 2018-19 budget process. That budget was handed down on 4 September last year. Decisions were made around that in the lead-up to that process.

I do want to put on the record the fact that there have been those in the community—members opposite—who go out there and scare their communities by saying in their local papers that Service SA centres are going to shut. They are not going to shut. What we have seen consistently is a group of people who are willing to scare communities who are in no way impacted to simply grab a headline. It is disgusting and disingenuous.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: What we did in the lead-up to the budget was be honest with people. We didn't try to hide what were tough decisions in that budget. We took to the election a commitment to deliver balanced budgets. That comes with it responsibility. That comes with it the fact that we need to make some tough decisions.

The Hon. A. Piccolo interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Light is called to order.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: Notwithstanding the fact that $12 million as a savings task that Service SA had actually relates to decisions that were taken before we came to government.

The Hon. D.G. Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Industry is warned.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: Notwithstanding the fact that $12 million worth of those cuts—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is warned.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —came from the former government's savings task, we have taken the tough decision that we need to make these changes. But can I say this, and I have to repeat this over and over again to counter the scaremongering from those opposite: these centres will not close.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Wright can leave for half an hour under 137A. Thank you.

The honourable member for Wright having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: These centres will not close until we have—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Ramsay and leader!

Mr Malinauskas: They're closed.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: The Leader of the Opposition says the centres are closed.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The minister has the call.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: That's news to me.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Primary Industries is called to order.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: I think it's also news to the people who are probably lining up inside them right now. But here is the other point I want to make to the house: it is not like the current service that is provided by Service SA, a service that was provided in the way that the Labor Party put it together, is a great service. It is not like it was a great service. As we roll out our strategy over the coming weeks and months, what South Australians will come to realise is that there is actually a better way of doing these things.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: There is a way to bring the Service SA transactions into the 21^st century and to actually be able to provide better ways for people to be able to transact. I know it is difficult for those opposite, who have only ever run union offices as opposed to having run small business, that there is such a thing called a customer service culture. I think that—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Torrens is called to order.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —what we will see as our strategy is rolled out is that South Australians will come to realise that there is a better way to be able to do what needs to be done. Those opposite are going to look pretty foolish trying to drag us back to the 20^th century.