SA Labor Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas promises to reverse public transport privatisation if they win next election

Labor leader Peter Malinauskas has set up a “private versus public” election showdown, promising to reverse the Government’s planned privatisation of SA’s trains and trams.

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Privatisation of tram and train services will be reversed if Labor wins the next state election, Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas has declared.

In his boldest pre-election pledge to date, Mr Malinauskas will also promise to examine returning bus services to the public sector, when he speaks at Saturday’s ALP state convention.

SA Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas said he will reverse the planned privatisation of tram and train services. Picture: AAP / Kelly Barnes

“Public transport commuters and motorists overwhelmingly oppose privatisation and we know the evidence elsewhere shows privatisation of public transport simply doesn’t work,” Mr Malinauskas told The Advertiser.

“South Australia deserve a high-quality, affordable public transport system, which puts people before profit,” he said.

In April, the State Government announced it would put out tenders for operators to run bus and light-rail services in Adelaide, arguing SA was the only jurisdiction in the country that did not outsource the operation of its tram services.

It also pledged to put out a tender for train services.

Dozens of companies, many international and from interstate, have already shown an interest in the contracts.

Since 2000, some SA bus services have been operated by private operators and Labor renewed the Adelaide contract twice in their recent 16 years of government.

But Mr Malinauskas said his pledge was a clear warning to future operators looking into the tram and train contracts.

If elected, the party would establish an Independent Commission of Inquiry to “forensically” examine the contracts, ensure they were wound back and “return public transport into public hands”.

“We are announcing because we want every would-be tenderer for the trams and trains to have the benefit of being forewarned – it is now a case of buyer beware,” he said.

“We are announcing because we want every would-be tenderer for the trams and trains to have the benefit of being forewarned – it is now a case of buyer beware,” said Peter Malinauskas.

Labor’s proposed commission also would look at the feasibility of returning bus operations and services to the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

Mr Malinauskas’ announcement will open the Opposition leader up to accusations of hypocrisy from the Government, given the former Labor government privatised the Motor Accident Commission, the Lands Title Office, Forestry SA and Lotteries during its 16-year term.

But Mr Malinauskas said he would not be defined by the decisions of his predecessors and was adamant running public transport was a core function of government.

Asked why Labor renewed two bus contracts, Mr Malinauskas said: “I didn’t.”

“I am the leader of the Labor Party now and my obligation to the people of this state is to develop an alternate vision that is consistent with the interests of people,” he said.

“This is an essential public service that operates in a monopoly environment.”

A policy pamphlet to be distributed on Saturday includes examples of “public transport privatisation disasters” including Melbourne trains and the London Tube.

Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll has made no secret of his desire to overhaul the state’s public transport system.