Ms BURNET question to MINISTER for TRANSPORT, Mr ABETZ
Making sure public transport access is designed into new facilities is critical. It is especially critical for a mega‑project like a stadium at Macquarie Point. However, there is little evidence you have done any real planning for public transport access to a stadium, nor for the transport issues commuters are facing right now, including congestion and in a cost-of-living crisis. Right now, we are 30 bus drivers short in greater Hobart and there is a broken wage and condition process for workers. You are responsible for a broken bus network, with 180 bus services cancelled every day, and that is just in greater Hobart. When will you restore these vital services? Is this not a bigger priority than funding a billion-dollar stadium?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Lots of issues there, unfortunately most of them incorrect. In relation to the services Metro seeks to provide, I have said on numerous occasions that there is a driver shortage. There is a driver shortage in Australia of 25,000 drivers. Tasmania is not immune from that. In south‑east Queensland there is a shortage of 500 drivers. If we could get more drivers, we would be employing them. Metro has engaged –
Ms Burnet – You are doing nothing to retain them.
The SPEAKER – Order, member for Clark.
Dr Woodruff – Throw your hands up and roll over.
The SPEAKER – Leader of the Greens, thank you.
Mr ABETZ – Unstoppable.
Dr Woodruff – I hope so.
The SPEAKER – I will allow that one.
Mr ABETZ – Metro has engaged in seeking new drivers. It has training sessions and is going out into the market trying to get as many drivers as possible. That is a situation the management is seeking to deal with.
The member referred to the cost-of-living situation. We are very cognisant of that. I thought the member could have at least had the graciousness of acknowledging the half‑price bus fare, which is a genuine cost-of-living measure. However, it is in the nature of the Greens to never accept anything that might be positive from this government.
We know that the member is against the stadium, as are the Greens, because the stadium means infrastructure which means the Greens are diametrically opposed to it. Therefore, it is somewhat strange that there is a concern to get people to an infrastructure project they diametrically oppose. The government is looking at these matters. That is why the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor is being looked at as we speak. These are matters that are –
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – Sorry, minister, you led with your chin on that one.
Mr ABETZ – These are all things that are part and parcel of this government’s strategic 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.
Members interjecting.
Mr ABETZ – Continuous interjections from the Leader of the Greens. When will it ever stop?
The SPEAKER – Thank you, everyone. Could we hear the minister in silence?
Mr ABETZ – I indicate to the House that Metro management are concerned about the loss of services. They would love to have more drivers, and if the Greens, rather than throwing rocks, could indicate to us how we could get more drivers, we would love to hear from them.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Ms BURNET – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary, but I am not sure where you will go.
Ms BURNET – Apart from the analogy of throwing rocks, I think that is pretty –
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – I am sorry, I cannot hear you. Member for Clark.
Ms BURNET – Apart from the analogy of throwing rocks – I think that was in poor taste ‑ but the question remains: when will you restore these vital services?
The SPEAKER – I call the minister, but I understand that it is dependent on drivers. If the minister would like to put that on the record?
Mr ABETZ – Yes, it is. I think you read between the lines there.
The SPEAKER – It is not the answer you wanted, member for Clark, but I am not sure that it is not inconsistent with providing an answer.
