❓ Hon Steven Martin questions the Minister for Transport regarding delays and transparency issues surrounding the SmartRider upgrade project, specifically concerning the implementation of debit card and mobile payment options. The Minister cites global events and software issues as reasons for the delays and provides a revised timeline.
AnsweredQoN 312Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the SmartRider upgrades to enable debit cards, phones and similar to be used to make Transperth ticket payments, first promised for completion by December 2019, the Auditor General report released recently titled, '2025 Transparency Report - Major IT Projects', and the Minister's answer to question on notice 74 asked in the Legislative Council on 9 April 2025, and I ask: (a) is it accurate that the project is not due for completion until June 2026, as described in the Auditor General's report; (b) noting that question on notice 74 asked, "what is the current estimated time that the ability to tag on and off...will go live across the network", was the answer in (a) of a June 2026 completion date not yet determined as of 9 April 2025, when the question was asked; (c) if no to (b), why was this June 2026 completion date not provided in answer to the question; (d) if yes to (b), when was the June 2026 completion date determined; (e) what public documents, statements from the Minister, or other communications from the Minister or the Public Transport Authority, except for the response published in the Auditor General's report, advised the completion date in (a) prior to the publication of the independent Auditor General's report; (f) what is the status of the end-to-end testing referred to in the answer to question on notice 70, and when is this testing scheduled to conclude; (g) has the live pilot referred to in the answer to question on notice 70 taken place yet; (h) if no to (g), when will it take place; (i) if yes to (g), when and in what locations; (j) noting that question on notice 74 asked, "how many new validator machines have been installed, to date", and this was not addressed in answer, with less than a year to scheduled project completion, is this now able to be answered; (k) if no to (j), when can this information be provided; (l) noting that question on notice 74 asked, "how many new validator machines have yet to be installed", and this was not addressed in answer, with less than a year to scheduled project completion, is this now able to be answered; and (m) if no to (l), when can this information be provided?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 August 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport
Response time
5 days
(a)-(m) The SmartRider Upgrade Project has been impacted by the global pandemic and the war in Ukraine, as well as software development issues.
New validators have been installed at all operational rail stations, and on over two-thirds of the bus and ferry fleet.
It is expected passengers will be able to tag on using a credit/debit card or mobile device by the end of this year.
New validators have been installed at all operational rail stations, and on over two-thirds of the bus and ferry fleet.
It is expected passengers will be able to tag on using a credit/debit card or mobile device by the end of this year.
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