MEMBER for Light Tony Piccolo has hit out at the State Government’s apparent willingness to privatise the state’s public transport network, saying it will “derail” the system.
Mr Piccolo, union representatives and commuters gathered at the Gawler Railway Station on Monday to voice their concerns and protest any kind of privatisation, which the state opposition says will lead to increased fees and cut services.
Speculation about the State Government potentially privatising the operation of SA’s public transport network arose in May, after transport minister Stephan Knoll refused to answer questions on the matter from opposition transport spokesperson Tom Koutsantonis in parliament.
Mr Piccolo said any attempt to privatise the public transport network would be the government’s way of filling “the black hole caused by their poor economic management”.
“Overseas privatisations have clearly demonstrated a reduction in train services and increases in fare prices, because private operators are more focused on making profits than serving the needs of the local community,” he said.
“This is not about improving train services.
“Having a safe, reliable and affordable train service is critical to people living throughout the Light electorate.
“Rather than dismantling our train services, the Marshall Liberal Government should be encouraging greater use by developing more carparks at train stations and improving their amenity.”
Tanunda couple Charlie Costin and Maureen Stubbs regularly drive to Gawler to catch the train to Adelaide to visit the theatre, and spend some leisure time.
Ms Stubbs said a rise to public transport fares would be difficult for any pensioner, such as her and Mr Costin.
“It would be too expensive for us to drive because it costs petrol to get there, and once you’re in there you have to pay for parking,” she said.
“We like to go to the theatre and go to midday performances, it’s cheaper to leave our car here (in Gawler) and catch the train in and then catch the tram around Adelaide.
“There needs to be ways to make sure people are paying when they use public transport, a lot of people get on who don’t validate their tickets.”
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) South Australia and Northern Territory branch has also rallied against any form of privatisation, arguing it could lead to job losses for current Adelaide Metro employees.
Branch secretary Darren Phillips was unconvinced by statistics from the State Government that showed public transport patronage is down.
"We would like the Liberal Party to cough up with the figures they are relying on, and we want to know where they came from,” he said.
“Gawler is a long way from the city, the price of a ticket from here is the same as a ticket from Salisbury or somewhere closer to the city.
“What changes to the price structure would occur if the system was privatised?
“They (the State Government) are not telling us how all these things might look, and how they will affect the public.”