Train Services

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:28): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure. Will Keolis Downer be responsible for all rolling stock, track, signalling, overhead and maintenance costs?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:29): I thank the member for that question. We have made that abundantly clear. Just to go over this point again, as far as this contract is concerned the government owns all the trains, all the tracks, all the stations, and of course will set the fares and also the scheduling. Of course, Keolis Downer, who have tendered for this contract and won this contract, will be looking after the running of the trains, the operation of the trains and the maintenance. This is a really good operation for South Australia.

I have talked about the success of Keolis Downer, and people here will be very excited to know that in a few hours' time they are in the running for the customer service award for the Australasian Rail Industry Awards. I think it's happening online. It's an online event this year. Unfortunately, we can't go along. That is for the running of the Yarra Trams, which they do in Victoria. I might have pointed out previously, too, that that contract was awarded to them—

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Reynell!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —by the Victorian Labor government. Prior to that, the Victorian Labor government also outsourced to Keolis Downer the building, running and construction of their tram network, and they won a service award for that. So this is about better services. This is a transport company that has worldwide experience, and they are bringing that expertise to South Australia. More jobs, lower costs and better services are what we committed to and this is another example of delivering better services to South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Those on the other side don't like better services.

Ms Stinson: You're cutting jobs; you're sacking drivers.

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Badcoe!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: This is the contrast: they don't like better services; we want better services for South Australians. As a government that's what we should be providing, and we are very happy to be doing that. So we are providing that for the people of South Australia. We know that—

Mr Brown: You are not doing it.

The SPEAKER: Member for Playford!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —when they left office, 10 years prior there were more people using public transport than when they left government, and that's not good enough. It's not good enough. That is not what we want here in South Australia. We want to be growing patronage here in South Australia, and that's why we have turned to this company that will be running our train service. They have a renowned history of great customer service, and I wish them well in the awards this afternoon. Who knows, they might win another Australasian award, which will be a credit to them.