New Transport Minister Cory Wingard must seize the day and abandon Stephan Knoll’s dodgy and dangerous rail privatisation agenda.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) SA/NT Secretary Darren Phillips today said Mr Wingard had an opportunity to clean the slate on his predecessor’s mistakes.

 “Everyone knows that Stephan Knoll’s privatisation agenda was a lemon.

“In good times, privatisation is foolish.  In bad times, privatisation is a disaster."

PUT SAFETY FIRST

Darren Phillips said privatisation will see responsibility for keeping public transport safe during the pandemic outsourced to private contractors.

“Given that outsourcing of hotel quarantine has been blamed for the crippling COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria, it is clear that State Governments can’t rely on outsourcers to put public safety first.

“Furthermore, the South Australian economy is suffering, and the State Government should be trying to save as many jobs as possible.

“The privatisation of the tram system saw the number of tram drivers cut by ten per cent.

“Corey Wingard must listen to South Australians and abandon Stephan Knoll’s transport privatisation agenda as his first item of business.”