Department for Infrastructure and Transport

In reply to the Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (21 June 2024). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining): It was the former Marshall government that privatised our train and tram network. Part of the privatisation included a secret plan to reduce security on the rail network.

These cuts by the Marshall Liberal government included:

Reduction in the number of Passenger Service Assistant (PSA) roles, from 93 to 63, to cut costs for the potential contractor.

Removal of PSAs from services after 7pm each night.

Elimination of fixed security officers on trains, to be replaced by mobile security teams across the network.

Proposed staged implementation of the mobile security teams.

On the contrary, the Malinauskas Labor Government understands the importance of improving safety and security across the public transport network.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport (the department) employs several regular and ad hoc security measures to provide a visible deterrent, as well as to attend to incidents that occur. Wilson Security, as part of contracts with the department and Keolis Downer Adelaide (KDA), provides physical security presence consisting of on-board guards on train services, roving guards on tram services, mobile patrol cars servicing the bus and train network, and 24/7 CCTV monitoring.

There are collectively 175 prescribed officers and passenger service assistants prescribed under section 57 of the Passenger Transport Act 1994, to undertake certain compliance or revenue protection duties.

As part of the state government's commitment to bring train services back into public hands, an additional 23 passenger service assistants will be employed on Adelaide Metro trains, which will bolster our overall resources to assist in cracking down on fare evasion and anti-social behaviour across our public transport network.

The supply and installation of new protective bus driver screens which will soon be rolled out across the Adelaide Metro fleet. This $7.5 million initiative aims to assist in protecting bus drivers from the risk of physical assault and anti-social behaviour. Screens will be fitted on all 940 government-owned buses, with the rollout having commenced on 21 January 2025, and will be completed by the end of 2026.

I have also tasked the department to explore options to give the department the ability to ban offenders from public transport and introduce tougher penalties; currently, only South Australia Police has the power to ban people from public transport.

The department advises that in 2023-24 there were 184 reports of physical assault on the bus network, 95 on the train network and 18 on the tram network, reported to the department.

The state government acknowledges the importance of passenger safety and the wellbeing of all South Australians, and such behaviour is unacceptable on our public transport network. Our initiatives are to crack down on this behaviour unlike the Liberal Party who planned to reduce security on the rail network.