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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-06-14 Daily Xml
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Regional Rail

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:40): Supplementary: does the minister believe that an extensive rail network throughout the regions would aid in regional development?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Well, you did talk about rail and regional development. I will allow it.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:40): It is interesting to have a question phrased from those opposite that might actually, at least on face value, be relevant to my portfolio area—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Indeed—unlike some of the Hon. Dennis Hood's colleagues who don't know the difference between federal and state matters or indeed my portfolio and others.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I thank the Hon. Mr Dennis Hood for his question. I think the issue around transport across the regions is one that is ongoing, and rightly so. There are issues around passenger rail, and we know that over many decades the patronage of passenger rail was decreasing on an ongoing basis.

I will reflect on the actions of the former Liberal government in their last term in cutting funding to the Overland rail service such that it was left to the Victorian Labor government to pick up the tab for that. Whilst in opposition, the Malinauskas Labor team committed to reinstate the funding for the Overland train service, and I am very pleased to say that that is an election commitment which we have fulfilled.

In terms of freight rail, of course there are a number of ongoing issues around there. We know that when they were in government last, the Liberal's disdain for regional rail and indeed rail in general was pretty thinly disguised; it was pretty obvious for all to see. I am very glad that we were able to address the Overland issue, and I look forward to continuing conversations that will occur particularly between the Minister for Transport, the relevant minister in the other place, and all South Australians who are interested in rail.

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