Port Broughton School and Kindergarten Koala Crossing

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (14:25): My question is to the minister for road safety. Can the minister advise whether it's possible to alter the times that the koala crossing lights are in action near Port Broughton school and the kindergarten? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr ELLIS: The Port Broughton Kindergarten shuts just before the school so as not to coincide their pickup times with the school on a co-located site and as such parents are finding they're arriving prior to the lights having commenced operation.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN (Kavel—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Special Minister of State) (14:26): It is good to receive a question, although in this case from the crossbench. The important matters that the member for—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Settle down, member for Heysen.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: You can just warm your hands around the bonfire of those four votes—or was it three votes, maybe? Was it three votes?

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister, I would ask that you stick to the question, please.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for your protection and encouragement.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: What's going on? Are you enjoying the 'Texas chainsaw massacre' over there, are you?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: What happened to you? I think we need Peds back. I think we really need Peds back. I never thought I would say it, but 'Come back Peds, please come back.'

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister, can you just resume your seat for a second, please? Okay, we've had our fun. We will now listen to the minister.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Members on my left, you will listen to the response quietly. Member for Chaffey, do you have something to say?

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Members on my right! Minister, you have the floor. The next member to interrupt may leave.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey, under 137A, you can leave for 10 minutes.

The honourable member for Chaffey having withdrawn from the chamber:

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister, I don't need your commentary, thank you. You are on your third warning, leader.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Just so long as I am not on my third warning. It's all down to you Jack. You're the only shadow remaining.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: I haven't had interactions to me; it's all been to you.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister, do you recall the question?

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Indeed, I do.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I'm happy to remind you.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Thank you, Deputy Speaker.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Right, let's get back to it.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: I am very, very grateful to the member for Narungga for drawing my attention to the koala crossing near Port Broughton Kindergarten. I know it's an important matter to him, to his community. It's a matter in which he has been persistent in his representations to me. He has emphasised that this is a matter he would wish to have an answer in relation to.

I have been advised by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport that in order to further highlight the koala crossing on Spencer Highway, Port Broughton, the department will upgrade the existing 25 km/h sign when lights are flashing. It is anticipated that this will be completed in the last quarter of this year. I know that the member for Narungga will continue to raise this matter with me until completion of the works, and I know that he will scrutinise those works once complete and if there are any matters he will raise them with me.

With respect to the timing, the department will also investigate increasing the operation times of the koala crossing—which also goes to the member's inquiry—which will include consulting with the school, which I know has been a matter important to the member. The investigation is anticipated to be completed by the end of October this year.