SEAFORD RAIL EXTENSION

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop) (15:04): My question is for the Minister for Transport—and he is out of his place.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right!

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the Attorney!

Mr WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Transport. What is the earliest possible time that a Seaford rail extension could start? On 16 March, Rod Hook advised the Budget and Finance Committee, as follows:

In relation to the government's first priority project, which is the Seaford rail extension…but the design work, concept design, through to design development, through to detailed design, all this has to occur.

Mr Hook also noted an environmental assessment of the project would also have to be undertaken.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy) (15:06): There was one thing left out by the opposition before the Seaford extension could occur. We did a lot of work in the department of transport with the commonwealth government seeking federal funding for the Seaford extension. The first thing that had to occur was that the commonwealth government had to agree to extend that funding. My understanding is that we may not have terribly much longer to wait until that is the case.

I can assure the house that our bid to Infrastructure Australia has been recognised by many independent observers as being among the best or the very best, so we are quite hopeful that we will be successful. The first thing you hear from the opposition is the very chirpy Vickie Chapman, the deputy leader. Why is it, I ask, that we can find but one chirpy, happy Liberal today? Is it because—

Ms CHAPMAN: On a point of order—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms CHAPMAN: I am happy that the minister is concerned about my emotional state or that of others on this side, but we do want to hear about the Seaford line.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: The point is that if the deputy leader, this stickler for standing orders, when I am answering questions would cease interjecting for, say, 30 seconds straight, perhaps I would not be distracted from my answer. The truth is that South Australia has made an extremely strong bid for Infrastructure Australia funding, particularly on the Seaford extension. I know that the Minister for the Southern Suburbs is sitting on the edge of his seat (while he is texting somebody on his mobile). We have made a very strong bid, and we are very hopeful

I have had a discussion with Rod Hook as recently as this morning. I point out that, on occasions, he has been criticised by the opposition, but he is doing an outstanding job for South Australia, and he is being recognised nationally for doing an outstanding job for South Australia.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I point out yet again, sir, that that stickler for standing orders is interjecting. It would not so bad if occasionally she was slightly interesting or amusing—but I guess she is cheerful at least. It could be something to do with Colonel Klink making a major mistake or something like that. I cannot remember what the wording was.

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson: The bus is on its way!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: He did try very hard to throw himself under a bus, but I do not know about falling under one. I can say this: I spoke to Rod Hook this morning and, should we, as I hope, be successful in gaining federal funding, I have asked him to make sure that we have a project officer in the department appointed so that we can go through the necessary processes immediately and start work immediately. I give the house this guarantee: just like the stimulus package on schools, which we will do better than any other state, we want to spend the commonwealth money as fast as it can deliver it to us. I give the undertaking that we will spend commonwealth money as fast as the commonwealth can send it over to us. I look forward to being congratulated by the member for MacKillop if we do win that funding. I have no doubt that he will be back tomorrow saying, 'Well done, minister Conlon!'

Mr Venning interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: And the member for Schubert occasionally says it. But, no, I asked Rod Hook this morning. If we get that funding, we want the process to start immediately—we want to be out there starting the process, unlike the former government, which used to do things, shall we say, in a rather colourful and slapdash way. I note that the Premier talked about Hindmarsh Stadium today. We will follow all the laws, and we will have due process. We will do whatever the planning laws require of us, and we will do whatever the Auditor-General requires of us, but we will do it as quickly as we lawfully can, and it will be a great outcome for South Australia.