Public Transport Privatisation

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:41): Given that the Treasurer has not ruled out rail fares increasing above CPI, will train and tram fares remain the same amount as bus fares under a privatised operator model?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:41): I have not given any indication or any thought at all in relation to the juxtaposition between trains, trams and buses. Ultimately—

The Hon. K.J. Maher: That'll make tomorrow morning's media. You don't know if they could go up.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Really? It must be a very quiet news day, if that is going to be the case. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition it will need to be a very quiet news day if anything I indicate by way of response to questions today will lead the morning bulletins.

All I can indicate is that the general procedures that have occurred under Labor governments and Liberal governments in the past will obviously continue in the future. I am not in a position to guarantee. As the Leader of the Opposition pointed out, the issue of what governments do over a period of budgets, either in the next two to three years or indeed periods beyond, will be decisions for either—we hope—a re-elected Marshall Liberal government or in the sad circumstances of a future Labor government.