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Question and Answer Tracking Details

233 - Transport - SYDNEY METRO DRIVERLESS TRAINS

Ward, Natalie to the Special Minister of State, Minister for Roads, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, and Minister for Jobs and Tourism representing the Minister for Transport

I ask a supplementary question. I thank the Minister for his answer. He referred to the Metro Trains Sydney contract. I ask him to elaborate that part of his answer, noting that Metro Trains Sydney is a private company contracted to operate the metro for Sydney Metro. Did the Minister for Transport consult with Metro Trains Sydney before agreeing to this demand by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union for drivers on driverless trains?
Original Answer -

The Hon. JOHN GRAHAM (Special Minister of State, Minister for Roads, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, and Minister for Jobs and Tourism) (11:31:00): I thank the shadow Minister for the question and her close interest in the fine details, just as she was interested in the opening of the metro—until it opened. The Government has never heard a question about that or the Gateway. Why not ask a question about the Gateway? It was worse than that at estimates. Good Transport officials were trying to brief the Government and brief the Minister about the Gateway. The shadow Minister's response at the time was "I don't want to hear about the Gateway."

The Hon. Natalie Ward: Point of order: I really am sorry, but this is provocation. These are very serious questions about why on earth we would have drivers on driverless trains and about the arrangements put in place by the Government. Mr President, I ask that you draw the Minister back to that. I note that while those projects are great projects, we have heard about them and we know about them. We do not need to hear about them further.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Natalie Ward is not helping by adding irrelevant information at the end of her point of order.

The Hon. Natalie Ward: I withdraw that part, Mr President, with apologies. But I would like the Minister to be drawn back to the arrangements.

The PRESIDENT: The Minister will come back to the question.

The Hon. JOHN GRAHAM: I simply want to confirm two things: Firstly, the Hon. Natalie Ward is on her best behaviour, absolutely. I have never seen her this well behaved in question time. Secondly, it would be appropriate for me to take the fine details of her question on notice, which is reasonable. The Government is now in the fine details of industrial negotiations, which is sort of an obsession. I do not have advice about that question. I am happy to take on notice the fine details that have unrolled and have resulted in the metro trains running on the football weekend and the Bankstown conversion unfolding smoothly. I will take on notice the fine details that enabled those excellent results to be achieved.
Additional Answer -

I am advised

Appropriate support staff - including those in Customer Journey classifications under existing Metro industrial arrangements - as per arrangements on existing metro services.

Question asked on 26 September 2024 (session 58-1)
Answer received on 18 October 2024

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.