❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding a disruption to the metropolitan rail network on August 27, 2010, allegedly due to industrial action by railcar drivers. The Minister denies prior knowledge of the action.
AnsweredQoN 610Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
RAILCAR DRIVERS — INDUSTRIAL ACTION
I look forward to as comprehensive an answer to my question as the minister gave to the previous question. I refer to the disruption to the metropolitan rail network on Friday, 27 August. (1) Was management at the depots aware of the possibility of this action in the week prior to the action? (2) If yes to (1), did management at the depots notify senior management, and what contingency plans were put in place? (3) Did management at any of the depots ask drivers booking onto their shift on Thursday, 26 August whether they would be booking off on Friday, 27 August? (4) Can the minister confirm that management at the depots knew by mid-afternoon on the Thursday that a number of drivers intended to book off on the Friday; and, if yes, how many drivers, and why was the public not notified of the possible disruption until very late on Thursday evening? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
I look forward to as comprehensive an answer to my question as the minister gave to the previous question. I refer to the disruption to the metropolitan rail network on Friday, 27 August. (1) Was management at the depots aware of the possibility of this action in the week prior to the action? (2) If yes to (1), did management at the depots notify senior management, and what contingency plans were put in place? (3) Did management at any of the depots ask drivers booking onto their shift on Thursday, 26 August whether they would be booking off on Friday, 27 August? (4) Can the minister confirm that management at the depots knew by mid-afternoon on the Thursday that a number of drivers intended to book off on the Friday; and, if yes, how many drivers, and why was the public not notified of the possible disruption until very late on Thursday evening? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. Although it is related to blue flu, I will be responding as Minister for Transport and not in my representative capacity for the Minister for Health. Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(1) Was management at the depots aware of the possibility of this action in the week prior to the action? (2) If yes to (1), did management at the depots notify senior management, and what contingency plans were put in place? (3) Did management at any of the depots ask drivers booking onto their shift on Thursday, 26 August whether they would be booking off on Friday, 27 August? (4) Can the minister confirm that management at the depots knew by mid-afternoon on the Thursday that a number of drivers intended to book off on the Friday; and, if yes, how many drivers, and why was the public not notified of the possible disruption until very late on Thursday evening? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. Although it is related to blue flu, I will be responding as Minister for Transport and not in my representative capacity for the Minister for Health. Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(2) If yes to (1), did management at the depots notify senior management, and what contingency plans were put in place? (3) Did management at any of the depots ask drivers booking onto their shift on Thursday, 26 August whether they would be booking off on Friday, 27 August? (4) Can the minister confirm that management at the depots knew by mid-afternoon on the Thursday that a number of drivers intended to book off on the Friday; and, if yes, how many drivers, and why was the public not notified of the possible disruption until very late on Thursday evening? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. Although it is related to blue flu, I will be responding as Minister for Transport and not in my representative capacity for the Minister for Health. Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(3) Did management at any of the depots ask drivers booking onto their shift on Thursday, 26 August whether they would be booking off on Friday, 27 August? (4) Can the minister confirm that management at the depots knew by mid-afternoon on the Thursday that a number of drivers intended to book off on the Friday; and, if yes, how many drivers, and why was the public not notified of the possible disruption until very late on Thursday evening? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. Although it is related to blue flu, I will be responding as Minister for Transport and not in my representative capacity for the Minister for Health. Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(4) Can the minister confirm that management at the depots knew by mid-afternoon on the Thursday that a number of drivers intended to book off on the Friday; and, if yes, how many drivers, and why was the public not notified of the possible disruption until very late on Thursday evening? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. Although it is related to blue flu, I will be responding as Minister for Transport and not in my representative capacity for the Minister for Health. Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. Although it is related to blue flu, I will be responding as Minister for Transport and not in my representative capacity for the Minister for Health. Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. Although it is related to blue flu, I will be responding as Minister for Transport and not in my representative capacity for the Minister for Health. Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(1) Was management at the depots aware of the possibility of this action in the week prior to the action? (2) If yes to (1), did management at the depots notify senior management, and what contingency plans were put in place? (3) Did management at any of the depots ask drivers booking onto their shift on Thursday, 26 August whether they would be booking off on Friday, 27 August? (4) Can the minister confirm that management at the depots knew by mid-afternoon on the Thursday that a number of drivers intended to book off on the Friday; and, if yes, how many drivers, and why was the public not notified of the possible disruption until very late on Thursday evening? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. Although it is related to blue flu, I will be responding as Minister for Transport and not in my representative capacity for the Minister for Health. Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(2) If yes to (1), did management at the depots notify senior management, and what contingency plans were put in place? (3) Did management at any of the depots ask drivers booking onto their shift on Thursday, 26 August whether they would be booking off on Friday, 27 August? (4) Can the minister confirm that management at the depots knew by mid-afternoon on the Thursday that a number of drivers intended to book off on the Friday; and, if yes, how many drivers, and why was the public not notified of the possible disruption until very late on Thursday evening? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. Although it is related to blue flu, I will be responding as Minister for Transport and not in my representative capacity for the Minister for Health. Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(3) Did management at any of the depots ask drivers booking onto their shift on Thursday, 26 August whether they would be booking off on Friday, 27 August? (4) Can the minister confirm that management at the depots knew by mid-afternoon on the Thursday that a number of drivers intended to book off on the Friday; and, if yes, how many drivers, and why was the public not notified of the possible disruption until very late on Thursday evening? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. Although it is related to blue flu, I will be responding as Minister for Transport and not in my representative capacity for the Minister for Health. Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(4) Can the minister confirm that management at the depots knew by mid-afternoon on the Thursday that a number of drivers intended to book off on the Friday; and, if yes, how many drivers, and why was the public not notified of the possible disruption until very late on Thursday evening? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. Although it is related to blue flu, I will be responding as Minister for Transport and not in my representative capacity for the Minister for Health. Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. Although it is related to blue flu, I will be responding as Minister for Transport and not in my representative capacity for the Minister for Health. Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. Although it is related to blue flu, I will be responding as Minister for Transport and not in my representative capacity for the Minister for Health. Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
Hon Ken Travers : That wasn’t funny. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : I was going to offer the member an apology about that other matter if he wanted it. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(2) Not applicable. (3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(3) No. (4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
(4) No. Management was not aware that drivers intended to book off on Friday, 27 August 2010. At 5.00 pm on the Thursday only five drivers were recorded as being booked off, which is not an unusual number of drivers indicating sick leave and can be covered by Transperth in the usual manner.
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