House of Assembly Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Bus Services on Demand Bus Services On Demand The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly West Torrens Bus Services On Demand The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:35): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Of all the companies vying for the on-demand bus trial, was Keolis Downer the only company his office met with prior to awarding them the $1.7 million contract? The Hon. S.K. KNOLL House of Assembly Schubert Minister for Transport Minister for Planning Bus Services On Demand The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (14:35): Can I say that these tender processes are actually undertaken at arms length. They are undertaken at arms length for me, so much so— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. S.K. KNOLL House of Assembly The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —that the only point that I knew that Keolis Downer was a tenderer was when it was recommended to me to give them the contract. In fact, I don't even know who the other tenderers are, and the point here is that this is done at arms length. It is being done at arms length, as is proper. What I find interesting again is that, like a number of times before, there is a gentle insinuation that the member is seeking to make. If the member would like to make that insinuation— The Hon. S.C. Mullighan House of Assembly The Hon. S.C. Mullighan: It's not gentle. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Lee is warned. The Hon. S.K. KNOLL House of Assembly The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —then make it. And more than that, if the member is actually pretty confident about his assertion— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. S.K. KNOLL House of Assembly The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —maybe go out there and say it and see what happens because this castle should not be used for this kind of behaviour. The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, Mr Speaker: this is clearly debate, sir. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: You have asked about companies vying for a contract and a certain company and whether the minister's office met with any other companies, I believe. That is the way I caught the question. The minister has provided some relevant background information. I ask him to come back to the substance of the question. The Hon. S.K. KNOLL House of Assembly The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: Sir, without any substance, I think there is nothing more I can add.