Oaklands Park Rail Crossing

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:49): My question is directed to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Minister, could you update the house on the progress of the government's plan to upgrade Oaklands crossing, and is the minister aware of any other alternate proposals?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The opposition will cease interjections. The minister has not even been slightly unpleasant yet as he hasn't said anything.

Mr Knoll: It's only a matter of time.

The SPEAKER: I agree with the member for Schubert, but I call the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:50): As we know, the state government has been working to remove dangerous and congested level crossings across our state. We have removed level crossings at South Road with the Glenelg tram overpass, the South Road Superway, and we are currently removing a major level crossing on South Road in Croydon as part of the Torrens to Torrens project. As part of the Torrens Junction project, a further two level crossings will be grade separated at Park Terrace and at Gibson Street.

Ensuring we upgrade the Oaklands crossing to separate rail and road traffic will deliver benefits to motorists and improve safety for pedestrians, and that is why this project is a priority of this government. Since 2008, we have produced reports that provide extensive and detailed information—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Colton is called to order.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Since—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The next opposition member to interject will be leaving.

The Hon. P. Caica interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Colton is warned.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Since 2008, we have produced reports that provide extensive and detailed information about the design; social, community and environmental issues; costings; assessment of needs; benefit/cost ratios; traffic analyses; and a host of other information so that, when funding was available, we could be ready to deliver this project.

We now have what the project was always missing: a funding solution which can deliver the project, and that's why the state government has been working hard towards reaching agreement with both the commonwealth and the City of Marion, as well as consulting the community. By combining the $40 million committed by the federal Liberal MP, Nicolle Flint, with the $150 million of savings from the north-south corridor project, particularly the Northern Connector, we have the funds that would be necessary to upgrade the crossing.

Mr Marshall: Got any new information?

The SPEAKER: The leader will depart for the remainder of question time under the sessional order.

The honourable member for Dunstan having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: We are continuing to work closely with the commonwealth. The Premier has recently met with the minister for infrastructure, Paul Fletcher, during his visit to Canberra and, like the discussions I continue to have with the minister, the Premier's meeting was very productive. What we won't do, in pursuing an upgrade of the Oaklands crossing, is what was mooted in a leaked shadow cabinet document just yesterday, and that is to reject the commonwealth funding just because there would be an opportunity to play politics. We won't reject commonwealth funding for the Oaklands crossing because that would mean South Australian infrastructure projects would have to be sacrificed to—

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order: standing order 98. The minister was asked about the government's intentions, not what they are not planning to do.

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon: The member is out of his place, sir.

The SPEAKER: For the information of the member for Newland, earlier today I gave permission for the member for Stuart to occupy the member for Unley's seat during the absence. The member for Newland is called to order. Regarding the point of order, I hope that the Minister for Transport will desist from debating the question.

The Hon. J.M. Rankine interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Wright is warned.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Further on that other alternative proposal, which has only recently emerged from the leaked shadow cabinet document, this government, unlike those opposite, won't ignore the importance and benefits of this project and what it will deliver for southern suburbs' residents and motorists. The focus of our policymaking in government isn't just to focus on those ideas which provide the opportunity for them to play politics and 'conduct social media campaigns'. To the government, the Oaklands upgrade is about benefits to residents of the southern suburbs and to motorists. To the opposition, again, it is about politics and social media campaigns.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the member for Stuart's point of order.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: My message to those opposite would be—

The SPEAKER: No, I'm afraid the minister's ability to deliver a message to those opposite is circumscribed by standing order 98.

The Hon. P. Caica interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Colton is warned a second and a final time. The member for Adelaide.