SOUTH ROAD UPGRADES

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:41): My question again is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. When the former minister for transport stated in December last year regarding the South Road upgrade at Port Road, 'There is no project that we intend to propose to the community at this point in time,' is it correct that the government had already sent a specific proposal to Infrastructure Australia for funding?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:42): I don't know when the former minister said that comment. I don't know—

Members interjecting:

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Deputy leader, I will take that point of order in a minute, but first I must call to order the member for Kavel, who is causing the entire backbench to erupt. Deputy leader, you have a point of order.

Ms CHAPMAN: The minister indicated that he didn't understand when this was said. I can confirm to him it was 12 December last year.

The SPEAKER: The member for MacKillop was ejected from the chamber for exactly the same offence yesterday.

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Yes, the member for MacKillop may have been right in his impromptu remarks. He may or may not have been right, but they were not a point of order. I am going to overlook this breach by the deputy leader. I am going to ask the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure to continue his answer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I just want to get on Hansard the member for Davenport saying that she was right. I think that is the first time you have paid her a compliment. Well done. If I understand the question correctly, it was that the former minister was asked at a specific point in time last year whether or not we could announce a project and South Road was going to be upgraded along Grange Road, Port Road and Outer Harbor, and he said at that point in time, no. Well, he would have been right because we weren't ready until yesterday, so we were ready yesterday. We announced it yesterday and if he said he didn't have an intention to announce it at that point in time, he would have been right then, too. We were ready to announce it yesterday, and we did, and it was a very welcome announcement.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I call the member for Morialta to order.