Public Transport

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:09): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier guarantee there will be no repeat of overcrowded trains and that passengers will be able to practise social distancing on future services?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (14:09): Again, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question and repeat the fact that everything we have done as a government is based on the advice from public health officials. In fact, I think the strength of the response here in South Australia in reacting to this pandemic, instead of underreacting or overreacting, is to actually have listened wholeheartedly and completely to that public health advice.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: I think that has been in large part why we as a jurisdiction have been able to balance the health crisis and the economic impacts as well as we have, as seen in the low case numbers that we have had here in South Australia. In fact, I remark that the restrictions we have in South Australia are perhaps the most lenient in the country, yet we have also seen perhaps the longest stretches, apart from ACT, in terms of there being zero cases recorded.

Again, I think Dr Spurrier and her team have given the right advice to government. It has led to the result that we have now. These people are experts. They are providing live advice. As I said, they actually took the time this morning to experience themselves what it is like on the train services so that they could see firsthand what is happening on our trains. Again, we are in constant communication with them, as we have been for the entire time of the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to be.