CUSTOM COACHES

In reply to the Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (12 June 2012).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure has been advised:

1. The government is aware of the purchase of Custom Coaches by Alexander Dennis Ltd. Custom Coaches advised of the potential take-over bid and kept the state government updated throughout.

2. Custom Coaches and Alexander Dennis Ltd have advised in writing their intention to continue operations at their facility in Adelaide at Royal Park.

The Minister for Education and Child Development has advised:

3. The government has established a panel of suppliers which assists contractors to purchase new buses where necessary.

Following a public Expression of Interest in September 2010, a six year pre-qualified panel of suppliers has been established for the provision of a range of different capacity school buses to progressively replace the existing Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) school bus fleet. The panel includes Australian and South Australian manufactured buses.

DECD bus services contractors have been able to access the panel at their sole discretion or purchase from any supplier but required to negotiate their own purchasing terms including price.