❓ Question regarding overcrowding on the Red CAT bus service in Perth, despite recent additions to the fleet. The Minister acknowledges peak hour congestion, places responsibility on the driver, and defends the government's investment in public transport.
AnsweredQoN 708Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
red cat bus service — overcrowding
I refer to overcrowding in our public transport system. (1) Is the minister aware that there is still significant overcrowding on the red CAT buses during peak times, despite additional buses being added earlier this year? (2) Is the minister aware that the red CAT buses are licensed to carry 59 passengers and that they are regularly carrying more than 70 passengers during peak times? (3) Who is responsible for ensuring that buses do not carry more than the number of passengers that they are licensed for? (4) What action will the minister take to ensure that buses do not carry more passengers than they are licensed for? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
I refer to overcrowding in our public transport system. (1) Is the minister aware that there is still significant overcrowding on the red CAT buses during peak times, despite additional buses being added earlier this year? (2) Is the minister aware that the red CAT buses are licensed to carry 59 passengers and that they are regularly carrying more than 70 passengers during peak times? (3) Who is responsible for ensuring that buses do not carry more than the number of passengers that they are licensed for? (4) What action will the minister take to ensure that buses do not carry more passengers than they are licensed for? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) I thank the member from Midland. As a bus driver whose licence is still valid, let me say this: the person responsible for the number of passengers on the bus is the driver, full stop. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that that vehicle is operated within the laws of the state. In relation to the member’s assertions about the number of people on the red CAT buses, I assume that that is a measure that the member has counted and therefore I will not comment on it, because the member’s grasp of figures is occasionally rubbery, more often than not rather wide off the mark — Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question; don’t abuse the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
(1) Is the minister aware that there is still significant overcrowding on the red CAT buses during peak times, despite additional buses being added earlier this year? (2) Is the minister aware that the red CAT buses are licensed to carry 59 passengers and that they are regularly carrying more than 70 passengers during peak times? (3) Who is responsible for ensuring that buses do not carry more than the number of passengers that they are licensed for? (4) What action will the minister take to ensure that buses do not carry more passengers than they are licensed for? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)–(4) I thank the member from Midland. As a bus driver whose licence is still valid, let me say this: the person responsible for the number of passengers on the bus is the driver, full stop. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that that vehicle is operated within the laws of the state. In relation to the member’s assertions about the number of people on the red CAT buses, I assume that that is a measure that the member has counted and therefore I will not comment on it, because the member’s grasp of figures is occasionally rubbery, more often than not rather wide off the mark — Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question; don’t abuse the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
(2) Is the minister aware that the red CAT buses are licensed to carry 59 passengers and that they are regularly carrying more than 70 passengers during peak times? (3) Who is responsible for ensuring that buses do not carry more than the number of passengers that they are licensed for? (4) What action will the minister take to ensure that buses do not carry more passengers than they are licensed for? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)–(4) I thank the member from Midland. As a bus driver whose licence is still valid, let me say this: the person responsible for the number of passengers on the bus is the driver, full stop. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that that vehicle is operated within the laws of the state. In relation to the member’s assertions about the number of people on the red CAT buses, I assume that that is a measure that the member has counted and therefore I will not comment on it, because the member’s grasp of figures is occasionally rubbery, more often than not rather wide off the mark — Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question; don’t abuse the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
(3) Who is responsible for ensuring that buses do not carry more than the number of passengers that they are licensed for? (4) What action will the minister take to ensure that buses do not carry more passengers than they are licensed for? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)–(4) I thank the member from Midland. As a bus driver whose licence is still valid, let me say this: the person responsible for the number of passengers on the bus is the driver, full stop. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that that vehicle is operated within the laws of the state. In relation to the member’s assertions about the number of people on the red CAT buses, I assume that that is a measure that the member has counted and therefore I will not comment on it, because the member’s grasp of figures is occasionally rubbery, more often than not rather wide off the mark — Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question; don’t abuse the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
(4) What action will the minister take to ensure that buses do not carry more passengers than they are licensed for? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)–(4) I thank the member from Midland. As a bus driver whose licence is still valid, let me say this: the person responsible for the number of passengers on the bus is the driver, full stop. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that that vehicle is operated within the laws of the state. In relation to the member’s assertions about the number of people on the red CAT buses, I assume that that is a measure that the member has counted and therefore I will not comment on it, because the member’s grasp of figures is occasionally rubbery, more often than not rather wide off the mark — Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question; don’t abuse the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)–(4) I thank the member from Midland. As a bus driver whose licence is still valid, let me say this: the person responsible for the number of passengers on the bus is the driver, full stop. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that that vehicle is operated within the laws of the state. In relation to the member’s assertions about the number of people on the red CAT buses, I assume that that is a measure that the member has counted and therefore I will not comment on it, because the member’s grasp of figures is occasionally rubbery, more often than not rather wide off the mark — Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question; don’t abuse the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
(1)–(4) I thank the member from Midland. As a bus driver whose licence is still valid, let me say this: the person responsible for the number of passengers on the bus is the driver, full stop. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that that vehicle is operated within the laws of the state. In relation to the member’s assertions about the number of people on the red CAT buses, I assume that that is a measure that the member has counted and therefore I will not comment on it, because the member’s grasp of figures is occasionally rubbery, more often than not rather wide off the mark — Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question; don’t abuse the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
(1) Is the minister aware that there is still significant overcrowding on the red CAT buses during peak times, despite additional buses being added earlier this year? (2) Is the minister aware that the red CAT buses are licensed to carry 59 passengers and that they are regularly carrying more than 70 passengers during peak times? (3) Who is responsible for ensuring that buses do not carry more than the number of passengers that they are licensed for? (4) What action will the minister take to ensure that buses do not carry more passengers than they are licensed for? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)–(4) I thank the member from Midland. As a bus driver whose licence is still valid, let me say this: the person responsible for the number of passengers on the bus is the driver, full stop. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that that vehicle is operated within the laws of the state. In relation to the member’s assertions about the number of people on the red CAT buses, I assume that that is a measure that the member has counted and therefore I will not comment on it, because the member’s grasp of figures is occasionally rubbery, more often than not rather wide off the mark — Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question; don’t abuse the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
(2) Is the minister aware that the red CAT buses are licensed to carry 59 passengers and that they are regularly carrying more than 70 passengers during peak times? (3) Who is responsible for ensuring that buses do not carry more than the number of passengers that they are licensed for? (4) What action will the minister take to ensure that buses do not carry more passengers than they are licensed for? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)–(4) I thank the member from Midland. As a bus driver whose licence is still valid, let me say this: the person responsible for the number of passengers on the bus is the driver, full stop. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that that vehicle is operated within the laws of the state. In relation to the member’s assertions about the number of people on the red CAT buses, I assume that that is a measure that the member has counted and therefore I will not comment on it, because the member’s grasp of figures is occasionally rubbery, more often than not rather wide off the mark — Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question; don’t abuse the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
(3) Who is responsible for ensuring that buses do not carry more than the number of passengers that they are licensed for? (4) What action will the minister take to ensure that buses do not carry more passengers than they are licensed for? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)–(4) I thank the member from Midland. As a bus driver whose licence is still valid, let me say this: the person responsible for the number of passengers on the bus is the driver, full stop. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that that vehicle is operated within the laws of the state. In relation to the member’s assertions about the number of people on the red CAT buses, I assume that that is a measure that the member has counted and therefore I will not comment on it, because the member’s grasp of figures is occasionally rubbery, more often than not rather wide off the mark — Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question; don’t abuse the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
(4) What action will the minister take to ensure that buses do not carry more passengers than they are licensed for? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)–(4) I thank the member from Midland. As a bus driver whose licence is still valid, let me say this: the person responsible for the number of passengers on the bus is the driver, full stop. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that that vehicle is operated within the laws of the state. In relation to the member’s assertions about the number of people on the red CAT buses, I assume that that is a measure that the member has counted and therefore I will not comment on it, because the member’s grasp of figures is occasionally rubbery, more often than not rather wide off the mark — Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question; don’t abuse the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)–(4) I thank the member from Midland. As a bus driver whose licence is still valid, let me say this: the person responsible for the number of passengers on the bus is the driver, full stop. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that that vehicle is operated within the laws of the state. In relation to the member’s assertions about the number of people on the red CAT buses, I assume that that is a measure that the member has counted and therefore I will not comment on it, because the member’s grasp of figures is occasionally rubbery, more often than not rather wide off the mark — Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question; don’t abuse the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
(1)–(4) I thank the member from Midland. As a bus driver whose licence is still valid, let me say this: the person responsible for the number of passengers on the bus is the driver, full stop. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that that vehicle is operated within the laws of the state. In relation to the member’s assertions about the number of people on the red CAT buses, I assume that that is a measure that the member has counted and therefore I will not comment on it, because the member’s grasp of figures is occasionally rubbery, more often than not rather wide off the mark — Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question; don’t abuse the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don’t you deal with it? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am answering the question, Leader of the Opposition. The member for Midland can get up in this place and trump up a number that she pulled out of somewhere; I would rather go out with the Public Transport Authority and make sure that numbers are true. Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Every user knows that they are overcrowded, and you’re in this place denying it. Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : When was the last time you got on a red CAT bus? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The Leader of the Opposition’s and the member for Midland’s experience with numbers does not fill anyone the government side of the house with confidence when they make assertions about numbers. Are the CAT buses busy? Yes. Are they busier at the peak period than at other periods of the day? Yes. That is why it is called a peak period. It is an international phenomenon. What it means is that in the mornings and the afternoons when people are trying to get to work and get home, there are more people on the buses. There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
There has been a significant increase in our annual spend on CAT bus services; I think it has increased by about 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That is 40 per cent more effort going into CAT bus services. There are now seven additional buses on the CAT bus service. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The red CAT that the member for Midland asked about has an extra bus on the service. The red CAT now operates for additional hours. All those things are factors that drive patronage up. Members on the Labor side of politics seem to think that increased patronage on public transport is a bad thing. I actually have a view that more people on public transport is a good thing and what this government is doing to ensure that good services are provided is investing record amounts of money in public transport. There are record increases in the bus fleet — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You are just full of it, really! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Even buses to Belmont, Leader of the Opposition, that long forgotten part of Perth! Has the Leader of the Opposition been out there lately? Has he seen the upgrades to Great Eastern Highway? Has he seen the extra buses services into Belmont? Did that ever happen under the Labor government? Never. There have been record investments in buses and there are new trains being delivered. The issue with patronage levels in 2016, which is what the member for Midland referred to yesterday, will be dealt with before 2016, because the one thing that the member has forgotten is that it takes two years to deliver a train. Therefore, by my calculation, it means that as long as we have ordered the trains by 2014, we will have them by 2016. We will deal with issues of growing patronage on the Perth train network at the appropriate time, through the appropriate orders as we have done thus far. Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
Member from Midland, let me say this: people are using the CAT bus service because they have a better service. Is there extra demand during the peak period? Absolutely. Who is responsible for the safe operation of the bus? The bus driver.
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