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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-11-14 Daily Xml
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TRAIN DERAILMENT

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:54): My question is again to the Minister for Transport. Has the government now established the cause of the train derailment on 27 September 2007 and what disciplinary action, if any, has been taken as a result of the accident?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy) (14:54): I have an interim report on that matter. I will see whether it has been finalised. The Leader of the Opposition labours under a number of massive misapprehensions, including the notion that somehow I am involved in disciplinary matters of TransAdelaide employees. I am not and it would be absolutely improper if I were.

Mr Williams interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: The member for MacKillop says I should be.

Mr Williams interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: No, that is what you said. Don't back away from it now. That is what you—

Mr Williams: You're not responsible for anything.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I'm responsible for keeping you on that side, Mitch. Three of you joined parliament at the same time; three of those Independents. There was the member—

Mr Koutsantonis: The honourable minister.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Sorry, the honourable Minister for Water Security, the honourable Minister for Forests and the shadow spokesperson for something.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Well, I do not do that. I will find out the status of it. My understanding of interim reports I have had is that it was to do with some loose equipment on a piece of rail. I will get an interim report, but understand that your government actually set up a governance structure for TransAdelaide that created a board and a general manager. It's not appropriate—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I'm not saying it is the board's fault; I am just telling you that, unlike you, I like to have a quaint little attachment to obeying the laws of the land, and your board is created in legislation. Your legislation—it is a law of the land.

Mr Williams: If you didn't like it, you've had five years.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I have to say, Alexander Downer is a much more—

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for MacKillop!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: —polite person, too, than these people.

The Hon. J.D. Hill: He's very well bred.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Yes, well bred, well raised—a much nicer person. In fact, he is not only an intelligent debater, he was quite urbane today, I thought. I think in another life we could be friends. We have a great deal in common. Just understand this—

The Hon. K.O. Foley: What have you got in common?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: He does at least understand a good wine, and that is something that I think is very important in a thoroughly modern gentleman. I will get you a report on the disciplinary action. I do not seek them myself because that is a role for the appropriate person. Could you imagine the question I would get if I got a tram driver into my office saying, 'You're in trouble, son. I'm docking your pay. I'm sacking you.' Mate, that is the way the federal opposition treats workers, not the way I treat workers. But just so that people understand—

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson: No, no, they are still in government.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Sorry, the federal opposition in waiting; let's make sure we get that right.

An honourable member: The alternate opposition.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: The alternate opposition. I will get a report on the disciplinary matter, but I will not interfere with it and I will not oversee it—

Ms Chapman: Because no-one will have it.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: All I can say is that I will get a report, but please, bring on Alex.

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