TRAMLINES

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:02): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Transport a question regarding power supply issues on our tramlines.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Yesterday tram services were restored after 36 hours of interruption due to power supply issues. The event was understandably very annoying and disruptive for commuters. In July 2008 I asked two questions on notice regarding tram power supply issues. The first question asked whether there were any reports of power supply problems on the tramline at the time and whether any trams were required to slow down due to power supply issues. That question is still yet to be answered.

However, I continue to have a number of concerns regarding power supply raised with me from engineers involved in the construction of the tramline extension. I therefore asked a further question on notice in September 2008 regarding power supply issues, and this time I received a response, which was, 'There are no systemic power supply problems.' A further response then noted:

All electric rail systems (tram or train) have an upper limit of vehicles that can be operated. When that limit is reached the system is augmented. With this government's unprecedented commitment to expansion of our public transport system augmentation will be necessary in the future for very high frequency services.

The second answer appears to admit that power supply along the tramline would have to be augmented to ensure continued reliable operation, as I suspected. My questions to the minister are:

1. Does the department now admit that engineers involved in the construction of the tramline have been raising power supply concerns for a number of years?

2. Were the foreshadowed and required improvements to the power system ever actually made?

3. Will the minister assure commuters that power supply problems on the tramline are now resolved and are unlikely, if not impossible, to occur again?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (15:04): I thank the honourable member for his questions and will refer them to the Minister for Transport in another place and bring back a response. I remind the chamber that, in terms of the extension of the tram track or facilities, we were told by the opposition that the extension was something that no-one wanted and no-one would use and it was a complete and utter waste of our resources. Now we find that it is widely used and very popular, yet we were told it was a service that no-one wanted and no-one would use.