Tram Network

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (15:00): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question without notice to the minister representing the Minister for Transport on the topic of Adelaide's tram network.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: On Monday morning, in response to a renewed push from the Greens to extend the trams to the eastern suburbs, Minister Tom Koutsantonis told the ABC, 'I just don't think a tram up the eastern suburbs would do anything to decrease congestion, and it will probably make the problem worse.' He went on to say, 'We won't be building a tram to Norwood.'

I refer to Labor's election policy from the 2022 state election, where under the title 'Taking back our trains, trams and stopping privatisation', they state:

Each train or tram in South Australia could take up to 540 cars off the roads. They are also some of the most energy efficient modes of transport, with greenhouse gas emissions per passenger kilometre up to five times less than that of cars.

My questions to the minister therefore are:

1. Does the government agree that getting cars off the road will reduce congestion?

2. Why has the Labor government abandoned its commitment to trams?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:01): I thank the honourable member for his question. I think the answer is that, in terms of congestion, it will of course depend on all the other factors, including the particular road in question, and I do not accept the premise of the second half of the member's question.