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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-04-03 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The Hon. C.C. FOX (Bright—Minister for Transport Services) (14:12): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Much has been said in recent weeks and months about the state of South Australia's public transport system and I would like to take the time today to set the record straight. We run a transport system that carries more than 100,000 passengers every weekday and operates more than 9,000 scheduled bus, train and tram services every weekday. We also provide car parking spaces around the metropolitan area as part of our Park'n'Ride program. We run more than 900 buses, more than 90 trains and 19 trams every day.

Last week, the member for Bragg commented on departmental figures regarding on-time running.

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker. It is the convention of the house that when ministers are given leave to make a ministerial statement they provide a copy to other members.

The Hon. C.C. FOX: That was my fault. The member is right: I never say that.

The SPEAKER: You have some, do you, minister?

The Hon. C.C. FOX: I do. I apologise, I've never made one before.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.C. FOX: I think that may be the last time I ever say the member for MacKillop was right with such graciousness.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Last week, the member for Bragg commented on departmental figures regarding on-time running. I would briefly like to note the figures which were not quoted on the day, that 92 per cent of train services and 98 per cent of tram services met on-time running expectations from October to December last year. These results are pleasing: I would like them to improve.

As reported, the on-time running figures regarding buses are well below expectation. This highlights the difficulties faced by buses in congestion compared with trains and trams on dedicated corridors, but there is no doubt that the reliability of bus services can be improved significantly and timetables should be changed to reflect actual running times.

I would like to explain the current status of the bus contract and the relationship of contractors with the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. Last month, I imposed fee adjustments upon Southlink, Torrens Transit and Transfield as a clear signal that their performance was well below expectation. During this process, the companies were left in no doubt that more, and potentially increased, fee adjustments would follow should their performance not improve markedly.

I would like to place on record the willingness of all three bus companies to work with the government to address current issues and their commitment to meet the service levels rightly expected by commuters. Each company has provided written undertakings in relation to improved performance, and changes are being implemented to address problems like missed trips.

This week my department will receive the January to March quarter data from bus companies. This data will then be audited before I receive a recommendation of whether more fee adjustments are applicable. The March quarter data will have been affected by Clipsal road closures and, as a special event, these time delays will need to be taken into account.

It is very important to understand the auditing process because it not only defines if fee adjustments are applicable but also provides the government with information that we can use when working with the bus contractors to improve services. I am explaining this process because I want commuters to know that the government is working hard to improve the reliability of bus services to reduce the inconvenience to commuters. Between now and June, the government will assess all relevant data and trends as well as taking into account the feedback from contractors in order to provide new timetables in July.

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, can I just interrupt you for a minute. I remind the cameras that they are only to film people on their feet speaking in the chamber. Minister, sorry.

The Hon. C.C. FOX: These changes are also an opportunity to ensure that bus connections between contractors are better synchronised. We cannot reduce congestion by taking cars off roads or refusing to fix or upgrade water infrastructure or rail lines, but as a government we can ensure that we are doing all we can to make the commuter experience as positive as possible. We are currently spending more than $2 billion to revitalise our network, and we are purchasing 66 new railcars. We have an additional 100 fully accessible new buses that have created or expanded our existing bus routes and we have increased car parking by more than 2,000 spaces with more planned around the O-Bahn corridor. There is always more to be done in public transport but I am more than happy to stand by our record, rather than that of the Liberals—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.C. FOX: —who left us with trams older than Bob Hawke—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.C. FOX: —and a capital investment program which was about 5 per cent of what it is now.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Bragg!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

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