Regional Public Transport

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (15:02): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding regional public transport.

The Hon. R.A. Simms: Good luck getting an answer on that.

The PRESIDENT: Perhaps, the Hon. Ben Hood, you would like to ask the Hon. Mr Simms. Is leave granted?

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.R. HOOD: Thank you, sir, and thank you, Rob.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. B.R. HOOD: In response to my question on 31 October 2023, the minister told the parliament, and I quote, 'there is a review underway [into] regional public transport'. Clearly that was not the case, after a number of delays have meant that this review is not anticipated to begin until the end of this year. The minister confirmed to The SE Voice that the tender was released on 5 August this year and the review would take many months to complete. City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin has described the delay as very disappointing, while Deputy Mayor Max Bruins has described the recent minor change to their public bus contract as 'akin to putting lipstick on a pig'. My questions to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development are:

1. When will the review of the regional public transport services finally begin?

2. What is the deadline for completion of this review?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:03): I thank the honourable member for his question. First of all, if I recall correctly, back in October 2023 there was the topic of both the review of the contracts and the overall review. I think that even at that time the honourable member was getting confused between the two in his questioning and in the answers that I gave.

I think it's important to note that the changes to the contract that have been made in recent months, while small, are nonetheless important. If I remember correctly, they enable their bus service to go to Foodbank, which is a particularly important location, obviously, in Mount Gambier. Whilst the individual change is quite small, what it does demonstrate is the sort of misinformation that is being put about by those opposite—that because the contracts were re-signed, therefore there couldn't be any changes made to them—is totally inaccurate. In terms of the timing, that is obviously with the Minister for Transport. I am happy to get an update from him and provide a response.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!