Train Services

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:38): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure What are the cost escalators to be applied to the forward years of the Adelaide train network contract awarded to Keolis Downer?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:38): I outlined to the member yesterday—and will reiterate the point again today—that there are confidential elements of the contract negotiations that I cannot go into, but I have detailed I think at length in his question yesterday what the contract will cost and outlined the details, and what it will save South Australians is $118 million. That is money that can be re-invested in better services.

It drives me to the point the member raised yesterday, and that is that we are delivering better services—more jobs, lower costs and better services. By saving this money, we are able to put it back into some of the projects that have been outlined already.

There are a number of infrastructure projects, and our $12.9 billion infrastructure spend is more than this state has ever seen, more than those opposite ever delivered for South Australia. We know how important that is because it generates jobs at the times that we are experiencing, of course, with COVID and the like. A number of those projects are in fact rail projects—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is on two warnings.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —and it gives me a chance to talk again about the Gawler rail electrification project, which is an outstanding project ignored by those opposite for far, far too long. It's going to be delivering some 250 jobs a year. We know it's a big project and we thank the people of the north for working with us as we deliver this project. But, they know at the end of the day, guess what? It's going to give them better services. That's what we said we would do and that's what we are delivering. We are investing in infrastructure here in South Australia that is delivering jobs in the process and going to deliver better services to South Australia.

That also leads us to the Flinders Link project again, a $141 million project. We talked yesterday about some almost 12,000-odd trips that are going to be added to that schedule and the people along that line are over the moon that they are getting better services again. They didn't get it from those opposite, but we are building the infrastructure that counts and we are delivering the services. Although you might not like it, we are delivering.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens on a point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: He has completed his answer now, sir.

The SPEAKER: Has the minister completed his answer?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Yes.

The SPEAKER: Does the member for West Torrens wish to raise a point of order?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: No, I will go to a question now, sir, if I may.

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is seeking the call.