C-series trains
192. Mr Basil Zempilas to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Rail, Tram and Bus Union's alarming report on the C-series railcars.
(1) Has the minister been made aware by her department of any issues with the braking system or the automatic speed functions on any of the C-series railcars?
(2) As of today, are there any outstanding braking system or automatic speed function issues with any C-series railcars currently in operation?
(3) Are there any C-series railcars currently out of operation due to technical or mechanical issues?
Ms Rita Saffioti replied:
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question. No, there are no outstanding braking issues.
(3) As we know, when a new series of trains are introduced into the system, drivers need to get used to the new trains. We work really well with the union and, of course, the drivers to ensure that any issues they have are analysed and we work together to address them. For example, we are working on changing the seats. There was a keenness to go back to the A-series seats as opposed to the C-series seats. We work really well with the drivers to make sure we can continue to roll out our locally made trains.
We are proud of our Metronet C-series trains. They are locally made and are being introduced across the network. We are very proud. I know the Liberal Party and the Nationals WA do not believe that Western Australians can make trains. They actually said that we should not be bringing back an industry from a bygone era. They said they oppose the local manufacturing of trains. We are very proud of our C-series trains.
Mr Roger Cook: They were bringing them from Queensland.
Ms Rita Saffioti: They brought them from Queensland. I will tell members something in relation to the C-series trains. I remember this vividly. Back in 2015–16, they went out and put $5 million towards purchasing new trains. A year later, they even scrapped the $5 million. They had no plans for new trains for this state. We are very proud of our locally made C-series trains. We will continue to work with the drivers, in particular, when it comes to ergonomic issues, to make sure that they are as comfortable as possible. There are currently eight trains on the network. We continually work to make sure we deliver the best trains possible.
193. Mr Basil Zempilas to the Minister for Transport:
I have a supplementary question. Can the minister assure the public that the drivers' concerns about the C-series railcars are being taken seriously and that those trains are safe to be on the public rail network?
Ms Rita Saffioti replied:
Yes and yes. As I said, all the Liberal Party wants to do is run down public transport. Its members go out to the suburbs, they criticise and they try to reduce people's confidence in our public transport network. That is all they have done. They go out there saying that we subsidise public transport too much. They go out there saying we should not be delivering Metronet, just like they did with Matagarup Bridge. Some members might not remember this but when we built Matagarup Bridge, the Leader of the Liberal Party came out and said, "There's gaps in the rail such that children will fall overboard into the river."
Mr Daniel Pastorelli: Oh!
Ms Rita Saffioti: I was shocked too, member. That is what members of the opposition said. They said that local people could not build a bridge. The then Leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition said that Western Australians were not able to build Matagarup Bridge without—
Mr Basil Zempilas: I think that was on the Rumour File, minister. I think I was reading a rumour.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The former Leader of the Liberal Party, who obviously read the Leader of the Opposition's rumours and used them in question time every day, came in and said that Matagarup Bridge was not built well enough and that small children would fall through the gaps into the river. The opposition has always undermined locally made bridges, railcars, you name it.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, you have asked your question and your supplementary question. If you want to ask another one, wait until it is your turn again. Carry on, minister.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I understand he built the stadium on a wildlife sanctuary.
Several members interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Members should remember that this is the Liberal Party that believes the old southern nine of the golf course was a wildlife sanctuary but the northern nine was okay to be built on.
In relation to our Metronet program, we are so proud of what we are rolling out. We will continue to work with the drivers to address their concerns about issues like the seats, and we will continue to roll out a modern, incredibly affordable public transport system.
