House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-07-07 Daily Xml

Contents

Keolis Downer

Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (14:28): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister advise whether he has received advice from any agency about break costs associated with the public transport contract with Keolis Downer, and, if so, will the minister release this advice?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:28): Given the former government wrote the contract, and the member was a cabinet minister, I am sure that they have seen the contracts. I am sure that they are also well aware that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —all these contractual obligations are commercial-in-confidence, but if the shadow minister is asking me to release the contract—

Mr Tarzia: No, I didn't ask that.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The minister has the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: As I have said, the department is now tasked with going through the contract, and Crown law will be looking at the contract. If there are any unusual break clauses put in there by public officers that are not natural or normal to other public sector contracts, those public officers, whoever they are and wherever they sit—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It's true, that's just the way—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Hartley!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —integrity works. If there have been any extraordinary clauses put into these contracts, I can assure the house I will be making those people famous.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: They might already be famous, true. They might already be household names; I don't know, but we will find out.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!