Tod Highway

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (14:13): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. When will the state government provide funding to complete the shoulder sealing on the Tod Highway between Kyancutta and Karkoo?

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is called to order.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:13): As the member for Flinders would know, his personal entreaties to me for the state government to provide funding for the Tod Highway have already seen some action from the state government on that. Not only have we provided funding for regional roads of Eyre Peninsula but we have been increasing regional funding in every region across South Australia, whether it's the nearly $35 million that I announced yesterday in this chamber, whether it's the $40 million package of road upgrades that we announced previously for Yorke Peninsula, whether it's the roads that we continue to fund in the South-East in full knowledge that the federal government won't fund roads down in the South-East on an appropriate basis for that community.

We are making sure that we are ramping up road funding across South Australia for the benefit of the regions. Not only are we doing that, but we are doing that for two reasons: one, because it is important for road safety and, secondly, because it's important for freight productivity. We don't come into this chamber like those opposite, like the member for Chaffey, and say, 'We shouldn't have large trucks in our community because it's bad for them.' We are sticking up for farmers where this party won't.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The minister has made the point that he is not as publicans and sinners.