Page 2894 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 14 August 2019
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MR PARTON: Minister, why did the government implement a new weekend bus network despite being warned that there were too few drivers to service it? Can the minister advise us which routes those 10 new drivers will be covering on the weekend?
MR STEEL: I thank Mr Parton for his multiple questions. The reality is that we could not have known exactly how many people would put up their hand for delivering the weekend services until the new network started. Now that the new network has started, with a lot more people—27 per cent more journeys being taken on the weekend, which is fantastic—we are working through some of the teething issues with weekend reliability. The focus is on increasing driver numbers overall, so that we can continue to deliver more services more often on the weekend.
MISS C BURCH: Minister, when did the government become aware that the new weekend services would not be serviced and why did the government not address these issues before implementing network 19?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her question. As I said, since the new network started we have been looking at the issues that are coming out, some of the teething issues, and we have seen a great response from the community: more people taking up weekend bus services than under the previous network. We are monitoring the data on a weekly basis and each week since I became transport minister, which was only just after the new network started, I have been looking at that data on a weekly basis. We will look at what improvements we can make to make sure that the reliability of services is there on the weekend—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, enough!
MR STEEL: so that we can match the expectation of the community in relation to reliability.
Ms Cheyne: Madam Speaker, on a point of order, Mr Hanson intimated during his interjections that the minister was lying. I ask him to withdraw.
MADAM SPEAKER: I did not hear that but there was a lot of noise. Was there any reference to the minister—
Mr Hanson: On the specifics, I think what Ms Cheyne is referring to is: the minister said “the community is happy”. I said, “Is that true, Chris?”
Mr Coe interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Resume your seat, Mr Hanson, please. Mr Coe, a point of order for something that is unparliamentary is not a joking matter. I did not hear it. I am happy to go back to Hansard. It was unlikely to be picked up because it is just a rabble coming from the opposition benches at the moment. I will call questions without notice and I will be very mindful of the language being used.
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