BUSES, SUNDAY

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Transport a question about the provision of city loop and Bee-Line bus services on Sundays.

Leave granted.

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: Last year 2 million passengers took advantage of the free city loop and Bee-Line bus services, but despite those impressive patronage figures the service does not run on Sundays. In order to improve Adelaide's tourist infrastructure network, in August this year I called for the extension of those services to Sundays. In response to this, the Minister for Tourism, Joan Hall, said that she intended to contact the Minister for Transport to discuss my proposal. To date I have heard no more about the idea. My questions are:

1. Has the Minister for Tourism contacted the Minister for Transport regarding this proposal?

2. What is the cost of providing the services on a week day, and what would be the cost of providing the services on a Sunday?

The Hon. DIANA LAIDLAW (Minister for Transport and Urban Planning): Work has been done on this over some time, so the honourable member's support is welcomed. I have been trying to get the Adelaide City Council to make some contribution towards this effort-not only the former mayor but the current mayor-to not only think that they provide transport support through parking stations but to think that perhaps some of the money they generate from their parking stations could be invested, as do other capital city councils in other states, in public transport and free public transport at particular times. All the free public transport in the capital city area of Adelaide is provided by the state government, and I do not think that that is fair or reasonable.

So I am very strongly in favour of an extension of the Bee-Line and city loop services not only on Sundays but at other times to other parts of the city, including the CBD. I am very keen to see that the Adelaide City Council recognises that this is not a state taxpayer cost, that it is of great benefit to the city and that it looks positively at making a contribution. I thank the honourable member for her support. Not only has the Minister for Tourism written to me but I have used the honourable member's support in my own negotiations.