Overland Train Service

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:32): Further supplementary: did the minister brief any local councils or local tourism operators about the Overland subsidy being cut and, if so, when did the minister do that?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:32): I thank the honourable member for her supplementary. Of course, as she would be aware, it was actually the Minister for Transport's decision to withdraw the subsidy and it was to be his responsibility or his department's responsibility to advise those people and those groups. Of course, Great Southern Rail have been advising any stakeholders and their regular patrons, if there are any. I am not sure how many of them are actually regular patrons, because it is five and a bit hours from Bordertown to Adelaide by train.

People talk about older people and people who don't have their licence, but we have a wonderful service called the Red Cross car. Volunteers from within the Bordertown community and other regional communities drive those cars up and back to Adelaide for people. The train only drops you at a railway station, whereas these cars actually take you to appointments with medical specialists and hospitals. I know there was some concern about elderly people getting to Adelaide who perhaps aren't able to drive, but there is a beautiful and wonderful service—and I compliment the Red Cross on the work they do and all the volunteers who actually drive those cars for the Red Cross.