Public Transport

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL (15:06): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conversation, representing the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, a question regarding public transport, patronage and complaints.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL: Today the minister released figures showing an increase in public transport journeys of 1.66 million in the past year, representing a 2.6 per cent increase on last year. I hope that these figures refer to journeys as a whole trip across different modes rather than a single boarding, because a journey may comprise several boardings, so I hope the government is not jacking up the figures but, on face value, a 2.6 per cent increase looks to be a good result.

The minister also notes that patronage on public transport is up by 10.9 per cent since the Labor Party formed government in 2002. However, if we look at the most recent figures from, say, 2009-10, which was a peak of public transport use of 66.5 million journeys, we can see that we are now 4.8 per cent lower than we were four years ago. In the meantime, I have data which I obtained under the Freedom of Information Act which shows that in the same time frame, so that is between 2009 and 2014, total public transport complaints have more than doubled.

So we have 4.8 per cent fewer passengers and more than 100 per cent more extra complaints. I also note that public transport got a raw deal in the May state budget with postponement of the electrification of the Gawler line and instead construction of the O-Bahn extension. My questions of the minister are:

1. Given that the electrification of the Gawler line has been postponed as a result of the money being shifted to the O-Bahn, can the government provide any cost-benefit analysis on the two projects that would justify this shift in priorities?

2. Apart from advertising campaigns, what programs does the government have planned or in place to actively entice people back who have lost faith in public transport and to actively reduce the number of complaints about public transport?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:09): I thank the honourable member for his most penetrating question and for his congratulations to the government on public transport matters, and I will take those questions on notice to the minister in the other place and seek a response on his behalf.