My question is directed to the Premier. Last‑minute cancelled bus services, long queues, overcrowding and buses going past full—this is the frustrating daily reality for thousands of northern beaches commuters right now and today is no different. What is the New South Wales Government doing to get more buses on the road and more drivers behind the wheel to fix this mess and provide a bus service we can depend on?

Mr CHRIS MINNS (Kogarah—Premier): That is a very fair question from the member. I know the member for Wakehurst has been an advocate for bus services for a long time. There has been a series of cancelled buses, delayed progress as well as real frustration from northern beaches communities, in particular with the B‑Line, 270, 271, 179, 181X and 154X. In some cases, those communities are literally feeling the squeeze because they are being crammed into ever‑smaller spaces as a result of a shortage of buses. I think it is important to ventilate some of the reasons for that. The previous Government had not renewed the bus fleet since 2011. The New South Wales Bus Industry Taskforce uncovered that there had been no replacement for high‑capacity buses like the articulated bendy buses since they were procured in 2011. As of October 2024, 83 Volvo articulated buses had to be pulled from the roads for immediate rectification as an emergency measure because they were dangerous and unsafe. This is a warning to all governments that they need to invest in their products. They need to make sure that basic maintenance is done. That is exactly what we are doing.

Mr Michael Regan: What are you investing?

Mr CHRIS MINNS: I thank the member for Wakehurst for another Dixer. He is useful and helpful. That is a great question. In answer to his question, I inform the House that on Wednesday the New South Wales Government announced 50 new diesel-powered Euro 6 articulated buses. The pressure will begin to ease as the Government repairs the broken buses that were taken off the roads at the end of last year. We will have the new buses plus the formerly broken buses. Given the Federal election will be soon, I have to say this was brought to us all by the former Minister for Transport, "Offshore" Andrew Constance. Let us not forget the ferries built in China and Indonesia, buses built in Malaysia, trains built in Korea and China, metros from India, light rail vehicles from France and Spain were all delivered late and over budget—and all at the expense of jobs right here in New South Wales. I know that the people of Gilmore have a choice to make. Don't let Andrew Constance do for Australia what he did to New South Wales.

18th March 2025, 13:02.