A hastily-written email to TransAdelaide

[Leaping Lindner]

Pardon my cynicism but I'm still keeping an eye out for those Tram Conductors that Mr Bracks said would be reintroduced last election.Or was it the election before last? Maybe they are being employed building the StKilda/Port Melbourne tram line that was also promised.

Neither - because as far as I can remember he never promised that in government. Brumby might have when he was opposition leader when they first got rid of them. The trams haven't been the biggest public transport problem in Melbourne anyway - it's always been the trains in general (and the buses in some areas). Bracks has worked hard on the things he HAS promised - and that's been bringing trains back to Ararat and Bairnsdale. Only Leongatha, Cobram and Mildura remain from the decapitation job Kennett did on V/Line!

Don't take this as a wide ranging endorsement of the Bracks government though. I have issues with him. Trouble is - I'd rather him as premier than Bailleau!! I suspect the same would be true in SA - Rann is at least better than whoever the opposition leader is there.

Sort of like who's the lesser of the two evils rather than actually being any good!

The reintroduction of connies was definetly promised prior to the last state election. It was going to happen on major routes at first (St Kilda included which is why it particulary caught my eye), and then spread slowly to other lines. As was the Port Melbourne/St Kilda tram line. That was going to be pushed as a tourist attraction as well as to capitalise on the growing population in Legoland (sorry - Port Melbourne). Trams in general are pretty good but could be better. The amount of vandalism and "incidents" on the St Kilda line since connies went is getting out of hand.
I can't comment on the train situation as I never catch the train.

[PhilG]

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[Leaping Lindner]

The reintroduction of connies was definetly promised prior to the last state election.

I never heard any such promise - and I always pay attention to the elections that I am voting in and their campaigns.

When was the last election BTW?

2002.

[noone]

Squark, shouldn't a minister be able to choose whoever they want to be their chief of staff?

a good relationship between a minister and a chief of staff is likely the most important thing. besides if a chief of staff does not perofrm it will reflect badly on the minister (likewise for ministerial advisors).

forcing a chief of staff on a minister because somebody else has judged them the best for the job is just going to cause tension and will end up causing the department to not operate.

For instance when Latham took the leadership from crean before the last election, a majoirty of crean's staff kept their position. This produced a whole range of arguments and inaction as latham didn't get on with his senior advisors.

not allowing a minister to choose his or her staff is just going to produce a slow and useless department, and if your solution is to make the positions public service positions i refer you to any episode of yes minister.


Philg, there are some votes in transport, however id argue for every vote gained usually atleast one is lost (problems include large cost, noise/polution, 'dosn't service my area', any timetable change etc). unless a new policy/inniative contains a big boost in funding it will be lucky to win more votes than it loses, and in cases like that a much bigger boost in polls can be gained from putting money into other areas, ie increasing police patrols or introducing more bus services. That in my view is why transport systems are always lagging behind where it really should be.

[Squawk]

Squark, shouldn't a minister be able to choose whoever they want to be their chief of staff?


Yes, providing they are the best person for the job - not 25 year old graduates with no work experience, election campaign managers getting a favor in return or a candidate who did not get elected or re-elected.

a good relationship between a minister and a chief of staff is likely the most important thing. besides if a chief of staff does not perofrm it will reflect badly on the minister (likewise for ministerial advisors).

Relationships are always good here because the Chief of Staff is always from the same faction as the Minister. The Chief of Staff manages ministerial staff that include public servants and so-called political appointments. The chief of staff manages the Ministers's Office and business, not departments. It is the Chief Executives who must perform to ensure the Minister is viewed in a good light by the electorate.

forcing a chief of staff on a minister because somebody else has judged them the best for the job is just going to cause tension and will end up causing the department to not operate.

You are confusing a Chief of Staff and a Chief Executive here again.

For instance when Latham took the leadership from crean before the last election, a majoirty of crean's staff kept their position. This produced a whole range of arguments and inaction as latham didn't get on with his senior advisors.

For political appointments this would be due to factional differences only. For public servants, they would be moved out quick smart if they didn't toe the line.

not allowing a minister to choose his or her staff is just going to produce a slow and useless department, and if your solution is to make the positions public service positions i refer you to any episode of yes minister.

My solution is scrap political appointments altogether - why should the taxpayers pay for party hacks to get high paying jobs on a platter - literally? Goes for both sides of politics.

[Magpiespower]

Philg, there are some votes in transport...

Just ask Des Corcoran!

[PhilG]

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[Dissident]

I'm not for or against electrifying the train network, but surely it would be done (if it was) for the benefit of the state, NOT to bring it "in line" with other states? What other states have, and us having the same, is surely irrelivent?

We have a bus service on a track - which works great - doesn't mean other states have to have one to bring them "in line" with us!

[Pseudo]

Would we even have this thread to begin with if it wasn't?

No, we only have this thread to begin with 'coz the 9:15 from Elizabeth was late arriving, too small for the crowd, and even later in to Adelaide.

[smac]

Would we even have this thread to begin with if it wasn't?

No, we only have this thread to begin with 'coz the 9:15 from Elizabeth was late arriving, too small for the crowd, and even later in to Adelaide.

You should have written a letter to Kris Grant instead of TransAdelaide, would have been resolved by now and any evidence of it ever existing would be gone too.

[PhilG]

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[Magpiespower]

Millenium trains, anyone?

[noone]

noone:Squark, shouldn't a minister be able to choose whoever they want to be their chief of staff?

Yes, providing they are the best person for the job

and

My solution is scrap political appointments altogether

how can a minister choose who ever they want if political appointments were banned?

i got my words mixed up in my last post, however the point stands that if the minister and the Chief of staff do not get along the portfolio will lack alot of direction, and nothing will get done.

And why should tax payers pay for political appointments, well to carry out the agenda that the voters voted the government to do. The minister/parliamentary party cant do it all themselves. these jobs need to be done by someone, much better that the ministers advisors/staff are going in the same direction as the minister, rather than public servants who would take the same wage and may or may not agree with the agenda of the government.

[Squawk]

I'm happy to agree to disagree on these points noone

[noone]

we can agree on that

[PhilG]

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[Magpiespower]

Millenium trains, anyone?

Why not? Great trains! Bring them to Melbourne!

Just make sure they're compatible with the existing rail network first!

Oh and, run a careful eye over the doors.

Who knows when you might have to fork out an extra $13m to replace them all...

[PhilG]

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[Pseudo]

Hey, I finally got a response. Just like their train service, it's too late to be useful.

Good afternoon Mr Pseudo,

Apologies for the inconvenience caused due to overcrowding. As you can see from the email conversations below this incident was investigated. The outcome was this service is usually a single car and we underestimated its usage on this occasion.

If we hold up cars it has a domino effect on following services which would take quite some time to rectify. The 10 minute delay to one service effects services on other lines as a Gawler for example could become an Outer Harbor, Belair or Noarlunga service once its arrived in Adelaide.

We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused by this scheduling error. Every endeavour will be taken to ensure this incident is not repeated.

Regards
Andrew

"we underestimated it's usage on this occasion". No shit Sherlock - I told you as much in my complaint. And you lot needed an investigation to work this out?

Sheesh...

[PhilG]

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