Spirit of Kangaroo Island

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson) (14:34): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister advise the house about the status of the Spirit of Kangaroo Island vessel operated by SeaLink?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:34): Can I start off by thanking the member for Mawson for his advocacy and his tenacity here. He is a tireless advocate for his community, especially the people of Kangaroo Island, who are in a unique position in our state. He is constantly in contact with my office—whether I like it or not. He does everything to ensure he applies the appropriate pressure not only to the government, whoever the government is, but to the people who are providing services to the people of Kangaroo Island, especially if SeaLink is out of operation.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: On 29 April, the member for Mawson wrote to alert me to SeaLink removing the Spirit of Kangaroo Island (SPOKI) from service for urgent repairs and the significant hardships this would impose on the good people of Kangaroo Island, an outcome that the member for Mawson and this government were not prepared to simply accept. Largely on the basis of his advocacy, after representations from the member for Mawson, I wrote a letter to SeaLink on 4 May to indicate the difficulties this would cause for residents—as I understand the member for Mawson had done in advance of my letter—to remind them of their notification obligations.

Following this letter and, quite frankly, the tireless advocacy and work of the member for Mawson, the company has:

added early and late services in addition to the standard timetable;

temporarily increased the tonnage carrying capacity on Sealion 2000 by reducing the amount of fuel carried, by increasing fuel deliveries and increasing the removal of waste frequency;

sought assistance from the timber carrier postponing bookings for May at a reduced freight rate, which had an impact on the sailings due to significant weight;

contacted all major freight carriers to minimise truck movements where possible to make sure we can maintain movement on the island;

capacity gains from these actions are being managed via a waitlist system to allow priority for Kangaroo Island residents and key customer needs, prior to releasing into the online system; and

importantly, two car park spaces are being held for last-minute emergency needs.

All of this is on the basis of the advocacy of the member for Mawson.

The initially advised period for the service to be out was from 4 May to 31 May. I am advised that SeaLink have moved significantly faster than originally planned and that the vessel has already left Port Lincoln to return to the island for final works. Final maintenance and the return of life rafts will occur urgently over the next couple of days at Cape Jervis. Confirmation of the date on which it will be able to safely recommence service will be made within the next couple of days. I assure the member for Mawson that my office and I will make sure (and the Premier has instructed me to make sure) that we get services back to the island as quickly as possible through our contract negotiations.

Again, the power of local representation from local members of parliament is important and key here. The strong advocacy from the member for Mawson on this matter has substantially eased, I believe, the burden on Kangaroo Island residents during this very trying period. It is an example of the power of all local members, whether they be government, non-government or Independent, to advocate on behalf of their communities to ministers directly.

This government is prepared to listen. This government is prepared to act. We won't be burying press releases. We won't be hiding information, like the former government. We want to act to make sure that local residents and local communities are heard. When a local community, through its member of parliament, wants to get access to a minister, this government will move heaven and earth to make sure they can be heard, whether they are Labor, Liberal or Independent. I reassure the crossbench of that—that we are prepared to listen and act quickly and swiftly when local communities are in need.