Public Transport Privatisation

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (14:26): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier update the house on the government's commitment to reversing the privatisation of our trains and trams, as well as any measures being taken to improve safety and security along the Seaford line?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:27): Let me thank the member for Gibson for her question. The member for Gibson cares deeply about not just her constituency but about public transport more broadly. This government has an awful amount of work to do on public transport given the fact that this government is undoing the decision of a broken promise of a former government to privatise our rail network, both train and tram services. We made a very clear commitment all the way back in 2019 that, on this side of the house, our view was so ardent around privatisation actually diminishing the quality of service for commuters and the value for taxpayers that we would indeed reverse that privatisation should we get the opportunity to do so from the Treasury benches.

Now having that privileged position, I am very pleased to report that progress to reverse the former government's train and tram privatisation now is in full swing and we expect that largely to be completed, with the trams first coming into control of the state government and then the trains throughout the course of next year. Now what does this mean? Well, it's not just about the money and the better value for taxpayers, it is also about the control. The big thing that the former government gave up when it privatised the network is control of the network and what we are interested in is assuming the responsibility for delivering what is a critical public service to people when they need it most. When you relinquish control what you start to see being compromised is the amenity of the service, including the security of the service.

What we became aware of, as we sought to undo the privatisation, was the fact that in the savings task that was being pursued, in the profiteering that was being pursued on behalf of the private operator, was a curtailment in the number of security officers and staff out on our train network, out on the stations, night in and night out. The people who pay the price for that are commuters, not just for their own personal safety but, of course, we also see instances of fare evasion go up.

What this government is committed to doing is not just reversing the train and tram privatisation but making sure that the requisite services that we are able to choose to prioritise are delivered, including the security of patrons on the Seaford line. More recently, we have also become aware of issues that residents in the southern suburbs have, and the concerns they have around the safety at their stations.

Of course, prior to the reversal of the privatisation, the people responsible for the servicing of the stations were the private operator. They had that responsibility as a result of the control being handed over by the former government—for what end, I don't know: an ideological one I can only assume. But what we will do once we get control of those stations back is look to invest in security arrangements where we can. We have already started to deliver some of that, including in my electorate of Croydon where, at West Croydon, the train station and the security arrangements are currently being upgraded as we speak. That was an election commitment that we honour.

We look to other opportunities in the southern suburbs. The member for Gibson, along with a resident in the seat of Black—we have a candidate who lives in the seat of Black and who understands what that means. They understand where Hallett Cove is. They do not need to get out the street directory.

The SPEAKER: Time has expired, Premier.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I was just getting—

The SPEAKER: You were just warming up, too, but we do have to obey the clock.