Public Transport Privatisation

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (14:14): My question is also to the Premier. Will the Department of Treasury and Finance assist in the procurement process for a private operator of train and tram services?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (14:14): I think it is fair to say that Treasury keeps an eye on everything that government does, and I am sure that every single minister in this place knows that the tentacles of the Treasurer, Rob Lucas, do extend everywhere and that he is watching all of us all the time to make sure that we don't waste any taxpayers' money.

The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure are going to be leading this process. We are already out to tender for our tram outsourcing. That was put out yesterday, and it will actually be done in conjunction with the North South bus contract that is currently outsourced under a contract signed in 2011 by the former Labor government.

For the train services, we are going to go out to a market sounding later this year and we expect after that a tender process to be conducted. The South Australian Public Transport Authority and the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure are the ones that are leading this project. The way that South Australians can know that we are serious about delivering better services is to actually go and have a look at the bus tender that's already out there. That bus tender that's already out there lists off—

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order, minister. The point of order is for debate.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Correct.

The SPEAKER: With respect to the minister, I think that the question was pretty specific. I have allowed the minister some opportunity, some preamble, but I ask him to come back to the substance of the question, thank you.

The Hon. A. Piccolo interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Light, you are called to order. I kicked you out yesterday. Minister.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: We took the opportunity to employ one of the leading experts in public transport across the country, namely, Tony Braxton-Smith. He is the right man to deliver this job—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —and we have every faith that he will be leading this process.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: I think the minister has completed his answer. The member for Lee and then the member for Elder.