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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-10-14 Daily Xml
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Train Services

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:40): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure. Can the minister confirm that Keolis Downer increased their bid price after tenders closed?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:41): Again, I thank the member for his question. I wasn't party to that process, as he would be aware. It was done by the department. If I can outline again to the member—and I have made this point in this chamber a number of times as well—there was an independent probity adviser who was assigned to this project who overlooked and oversaw the project and who has put a report in to the Auditor-General. Again, I have every confidence that was done to the satisfaction of that independent probity adviser.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the leader! The minister will resume his seat for a moment. The leader will leave for 20 minutes under 137A.

The honourable member for Croydon having withdrawn from the chamber:

The SPEAKER: The minister has the call.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: So, again, to that point, that will all play out in the Auditor-General's Report. I look forward to receiving that, as the parliament will. I drive back to the point, and the key point behind this is we came into government wanting to deliver better services and we know Keolis Downer have a track record of delivering wonderful customer service. I have talked again about the award-winning role they played with the light rail, the trams up on the Gold Coast. Again, this was a piece of infrastructure that Keolis actually built and then went on to manage and run. That contract was put in place by the Labor government up there in Queensland. They thought Keolis were a very good company.

Likewise, in Victoria, Yarra Trams, I think I mentioned yesterday, are in line for an award as well. They are a finalist in the Australasian Rail Industry Awards for customer service. There's that word again 'service'. I think it's really important that we are focused on delivering better services for the people of South Australia. We know that when Labor left office, 10 years prior there were more people using public transport. That wasn't the case. We need to turn that around. We need to deliver better service to get more people using public transport. I mention again that Yarra Trams are in line for that award. They have done an outstanding job—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order: the question was about whether or not Keolis Downer increased their bid after tenders had closed. The minister is talking about Yarra trains.

The SPEAKER: I accept the point of order. The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport was asked quite a specific question. The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport has the opportunity to address the context of the question. I direct the minister to the question.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I would just like to correct the Leader of the Opposition: I was talking about Yarra Trams as well, because they are—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Sorry, the member for West Torrens. I forgot, sorry.

The Hon. S.S. Marshall: We know who you meant.

The SPEAKER: Order, the Premier!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Exactly. Again, I was talking about the contract that has been signed that the member raised—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —and the contract that has been signed with Keolis Downer, the great service that they provide and what they have done up on the Gold Coast and also over in Melbourne. We look forward to delivering that better service for the people of South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the member for Waite, I call to order the Minister for Energy and Mining, the Deputy Premier and the Premier.

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