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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-02-04 Daily Xml
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TRAMS

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (15:26): My question is to the Minister for Transport. Why were Melbourne trams still able to operate last week in 45° temperatures but Adelaide trams conked out, and why are our trams still running around with the side curtains off their air conditioning systems?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy) (15:26): The story changes day to day from the member for Morphett on trams. He told people last week when we were not here that we had made a mistake because Bombardier had sold trams to Egypt and Iran—I actually thought that we were not allowed to sell them; I thought there was a bit of a promise—and that trams in Melbourne ran without any difficulty where they had difficulties here. But, of course, now it is: why were trams running in Melbourne? Can I suggest to the member for Morphett that if he thinks the Melbourne public transport system performed better than South Australia—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Can I also advise the member for Morphett that we are trying to determine whether Iran has any trams at all. We do not think that they have a tram service. We have been trying to find it. However, if Iran did buy trams I do not know what they are running them on, because as far as we can ascertain they do not have a tram system. But never mind that. Do not let the facts get in the way of a good invention.

The Hon. K.O. Foley interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: There it is. I do acknowledge that apparently it has put a satellite in orbit. I will come back and inform the house if I am wrong, but we believe they have a rail system but we are struggling to find any trams at all.

Of course, on trams, the member for Morphett also came in a few years ago to tell us that we were in imminent danger of—what was it; legionnaire's disease? Of course, invention. He came and told us of the enormous risk of carbon build-up to health on top of the trams, except that of course all trams do that because it is designed to wear off and fall on the top of the trams.

The member for Morphett makes up stories about trams. On the record, at the risk of facing a privileges committee, the member for Morphett makes up stories about trams. But most famous of all, remember, he told two stories in two days. The first story was about how he was travelling on a tram to a meeting with the Premier and an idiot walked in front of it, and he congratulated the great brakes on the tram and the operation of the driver having to stop, but then of course there was a delay because they had to investigate it. You know what he said the next day? 'I was travelling on a tram and they are so faulty I was late for a meeting with the Premier.' He could not keep his own story straight for 24 hours. So, on the record, at the risk of a privileges committee, the member for Morphett makes up stories about trams. I am happy—

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order.

Ms CHAPMAN: I rise on a point of order, sir. This is outrageous and—

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: But true!

Ms CHAPMAN: —I ask the minister—

The SPEAKER: Order! What is the deputy leader's point of order?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The deputy leader—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! What is the deputy leader's point of order?

Ms CHAPMAN: The minister has accused the honourable member of making that up, and I think he should apologise.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The Minister for Transport.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Okay. Last week we had the honourable member's inventions about Iran trams, Egyptian trams and Martian trams. He also said that the trams ran in Melbourne without any difficulties—why could they not do it here? I have a story from last week from Melbourne and it reads—of course, the press might not be telling the truth; they might not be as assiduous with the facts as the member for Morphett. Here is what it says. It is Clay Lucas, 29 January 2009:

Fewer than half of Melbourne's government-owned trams are air conditioned, leaving thousands of passengers yesterday struggling to deal with a combination of overcrowding and stifling temperatures.

Anyone who saw the news—the Premier, a watcher of Sky News—can tell you that it was chaos. They were demanding the resignation of the minister over there, and I think Lynne Kosky does a very good job. Over here—

Dr McFetridge interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Every tram ran? Would you stake your career on that, member for Morphett? A nod will do. Will you stake your career on it, you maker of tram stories, you inventor of tram stories? Will you stake your career on that claim? Will you? Is he nodding yet? Is he saying 'Yes'? Look, as much as I have enjoyed this—

Dr McFetridge interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Calmly, will you stake your career on your claim?

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: The minister's behaviour is simply making a farce of parliament. I ask that you draw him to a close.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will take his seat.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! It is disorderly for members to interject, which is what is happening. It is also disorderly for the minister to incite interjections. The minister has the call.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I will conclude by saying that I will check the claim of the member for Morphett that every tram ran in Melbourne.

Dr McFetridge interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morphett will come to order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: His claim is different now. I will say that the member for Morphett on trams makes Pinocchio look very snub-nosed!

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