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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-06-17 Daily Xml
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TRAMLINE EXTENSION

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (15:05): We will leave the colonoscope at home. My question is to the Minister for Transport. How many traffic lanes will be lost on Port Road after the construction of a tramline to the Entertainment Centre?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy) (15:05): It is interesting that the budget has been well received. The information on the tram extension electrification was, I think, well received everywhere except, of course, within the Liberal Party, which has already criticised the tram extension to the Entertainment Centre.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I am going to answer your question. They have already criticised it. In fact, the Leader of the Opposition refers to it as 'the tram to nowhere' but, of course, that is what he said about the previous extension, which had a 15 per cent increase in patronage.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Not on the shuttle—after we cancelled the buses. He comes in, like a tommy ruff. No, I was referring to the main line: the line from Outer Harbor, not on the free shuttle. The free shuttle is about 40 per cent.

An honourable member: Glenelg.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: On the main line from Glenelg, sorry—a 15 per cent increase. It just goes to show that he gets it wrong every time. Thankfully, other people understand this better, because the Liberal Party the other day on their website (something very relevant to this) asked about our plans for transport, and they were push-polling on their own website.

Ms CHAPMAN: I rise on a point of order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms CHAPMAN: The question was very specific: how many lanes will close? It was not a criticism.

The SPEAKER: Order! I will listen to what the minister has to say, but he must answer the substance of the question.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: The Liberal website asked people if Mike and Kevin had spent their taxes wisely and they lost it 52 per cent.

Ms CHAPMAN: I rise on a point of order. How can that possibly—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Ms CHAPMAN: I ask you, Mr Speaker, to rule on this, because how can that possibly have any relevance to the number of lanes that will close?

The SPEAKER: Order! I agree. The minister will turn to the substance of the question.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: But the point I make from that is that, yes, there will be design challenges in the tram extension; there always will be. This project is one that is difficult. If we had set out to do something easy we would not deserve to be the government, and we richly deserve to be the government.

The Hon. M.D. Rann: I'd like to ask a question. When will the first stage of the—

Ms CHAPMAN: I rise on a point of order.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier will not interject.

Ms CHAPMAN: The Premier is not here to interject, thank you.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Transport.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Yes, there will be challenges. The final design is still—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: But they still do not like it. What I say to the opposition is: get with the 52 per cent who said it was a good idea. You asked the question; you push polled and you lost, so get with the strength.

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