Keolis Downer

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (15:35): My question is for the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. On how many occasions did Keolis Downer attempt to withdraw from the tender process?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order: standing order 97. That question contained significant argument.

The SPEAKER: I think it's a question on a subject matter that's been the subject of a number of questions. I will give the minister the opportunity to respond.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:36): I thank the member for his question and note again the point that the contract hasn't been signed; no contract has been signed yet. I am happy to take that element of the question on notice. What I would like to point out to the member, because I know he has an interest in this, is the contracts we will be signing will be very similar to the outsourcing contracts that they signed, and they have signed a number of them, too: the bus contract, I think, three times, very happy to outsource that. They like that.

The Hon. D.C. van Holst Pellekaan: How many?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Three.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: On three occasions they outsourced that. The leader can talk, too, about contracts of outsourcing because he signed the one to outsource Mount Gambier Prison, so he knows all about—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —outsourcing.

Mr PICTON: Point of order.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Actually, no, maybe it was the member for Kaurna—

The SPEAKER: The member for Kaurna on a point of order.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —and that could be why he is stepping up.

The SPEAKER: The minister will resume his seat. The member for Kaurna on the point of order.

Mr PICTON: Debate.

The SPEAKER: Standing order 97, debating the—

Mr PICTON: 98: debate. It was a very clear question about how many times Keolis Downer have tried to pull out of the tendering process.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order. The minister will return to the subject of the question. He may have finished, but I will give him the call.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Yes, I have, sir, thank you.