ROAD MAINTENANCE

163 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (31 July 2007). For each year since 2000-01:

How much has the State Government spent on building and maintaining metropolitan and non-metropolitan roads, respectively, what is this expenditure in per capita terms and what has been the Federal Government's contribution?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy): I provide the following information:

Since 2001-02, the last full year of the previous Liberal Government, road maintenance has steadily increased. In 2007-08 the State Government has budgeted $76 million in road maintenance operating expenditure. This compares with $61 million in 2001-02—the last full year in office for the Opposition. Additionally in 2007-08 the State Government has boosted the Long Life Roads Program by $3 million, a program aimed at preservation of the State road network including shoulder safety improvements and targeted safety improvements, and a further $23.5 million has been allocated to address damage from flooding in the north of the State.

The State Government will spend $287.8 million ($76 million maintenance and $211.8 million road capital) this financial year on road maintenance and road investment, a record amount for a South Australian State Government and nearly double that of the Liberal Government's road transport investment spending in 2001-02.

In terms of total transport investment the State Government has allocated $311 million (excluding maintenance) for 2007-08, more than double that of the last State Liberal Government ($129 million).

South Australia's 6.1 per cent share of the Australian Government's AusLink National Network Programme funding compares unfavourably with other key indicators such as: population (7.6 per cent), lane kilometres of the National Network (11.8 per cent) and road freight task (tonne-kilometres) (8.8 per cent).