Public Transport

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:04): My question is again to the Premier. Why won't the Premier rule out the privatisation of our train and tram network?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:04): I think we have covered this in plenty of detail over the last 24 hours, but I will go through it again for those opposite who don't—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! We have the question.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —seem to understand what we are doing in South Australia. But the reality is that those of us on this side of the house have been dissatisfied with the operation of public transport in South Australia for an extended period of time.

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

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

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We have seen declining patronage on our public transport service in South Australia. It is not operating anywhere near optimal. In fact, it is not operating at an acceptable level whatsoever. Those opposite want to bleat. They want to talk on and on about public transport. I still remember when I came into this parliament, sitting on the other side of this chamber, hearing time and time again from those opposite what they were going to do to improve the outcomes for public transport in South Australia. They said that they were going to electrify the Outer Harbor line. Did they do that? No. They said that they were going to electrify the Grange line. Did they do that? No. I tell you what, they started to electrify the Gawler line—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order: all debate, sir.

The SPEAKER: It is for debate. The way I caught the question, it was about why the Premier may not rule out privatisation of the train and tram network. I think so far the Premier has contrasted what a former government may have done and what this government has done so I consider that germane, but I will be listening very carefully. Before I call the Premier back to his feet, I call to order the members for Badcoe, Mawson, Elizabeth and Hurtle Vale.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: As I was saying to the house, we have a greater ambition for public transport in South Australia. We reject those opposite who talk about public transport but do little to deliver for the people of South Australia. It was not that long ago that those opposite talked about the electrification of the Gawler line, and again and again they postponed that project. What did we do when we came to government? We made sure—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —that the investment the taxpayers of South Australia have made in the Gawler line electrification will be finally realised with a train which goes to Gawler. That was surely the purpose in the first place. As I was saying, we would like to see greater patronage on our public transport in South Australia. The minister has already implemented fantastic reforms, announced before the election, to establish the South Australian Public Transport Authority, which I believe—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: What do you mean, when? It's coming into effect on 1 July. That is my understanding. That is exactly what is going to be happening.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We have been out there. This government has been working very hard—diligently in fact—identifying best practice because, let me tell you, you can look at any other jurisdiction in Australia and the public transport system works far better than the public transport system that we inherited from those opposite. We plan to look at best practice. We plan to come back and implement best practice because we want a better public transport system in South Australia and we want better value for money for the people of South Australia.

Those opposite talk about privatisation like it is something they have never been anywhere near. They grasp privatisation at every single opportunity. In fact, when they were in power last they signed a contract with private providers for the vast majority of the public transport system in South Australia and now they come into this place and start lecturing us. Well, I tell you what, we plan to improve public transport in South Australia. And I will tell you a second thing: we won't be seeking any advice from those opposite.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Before I call the Leader of the Opposition, I call to order the leader, the deputy leader and the member for Torrens. I call to order the Minister for Innovation and Skills, the member for Morphett and the member for Colton, and the member for Heysen can pay for the sins of the member for Waite.