Estimates - Transport - Public Transport funding

CHAIR - Minister, just going back to public transport funding. Public transport is provided with the same funding year on year, assuming the forecast for next year continues this pattern. The amount doesn't even provide for indexation, let alone responding to population growth. How does the government expect to meet the changing and growing transport needs with what is essentially a smaller budget envelope each financial year?

Mr VINCENT - In relation to the ongoing budget, there is probably some difference in numbers in relation to the changes with machinery government. I'm not 100 per cent sure. I am looking up at the acting secretary now if he's aware of that or whether we need to go to the deputy secretary for clarification on that.

Mr GREGORY - No, through you, minister. I'm not aware of anything directly related. There will be obviously through operational efficiencies there will be some things we need to achieve associated with the machinery of government, but operational efficiency is generally. I think I would have to have a look at the numbers in a bit more detail.

Ms HEYDON - Through you, minister. There is variability against that budget line because it does include previous one-off initiatives or initiatives that have a finishing year or so after such as additional bus services et cetera, which were essentially additional funding as opposed to ongoing funding. So, for one-off initiatives.

CHAIR - But would you agree that this is the time to actually invest in public transport?

Mr VINCENT - We're taking public transport extremely seriously while investing in the cost-of-living measures that we have, and I know I've said it a few times a day, but I do have a lot of faith in the experience of the new CEO operating with the board out there to look at our Metro, which is a bus company for the public transport around the state, and come up with sensible ways of improving that service and over the coming months that will become, I'm sure, apparent and be part of what we need to work with to make it even better going forward. I have a lot of faith in that. We are concentrating enormously on making sure Metro delivers what it has to on an improving basis for the growth of Hobart, Launceston and Burnie.

CHAIR - I'm sure you have a lot of faith, but it takes more than faith, minister.

Mr VINCENT - Got to start with faith, and I know we've got good people in place to deliver some of these programs, Chair.