Yorkeys Crossing

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:30): Supplementary: will the minister confirm that the state government has $40 million on the table, offered to the federal government, to put towards one of those two projects: Yorkeys Crossing or the upgrade of the Joy Baluch AM Bridge?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:30): Again, this may take a couple of minutes, but let me walk you through some history about how we have jointly funded these projects. Back in 2014, we had a conflict between the federal and the state government when it came to major road upgrades, particularly on the north-south corridor on South Road. We had gone to the election promising to fund the Torrens to Torrens project. The other side of politics had gone to the election promising to cancel that project and redirect those funds into an upgrade of the Darlington project.

Within 20 minutes of sitting down with the then federal minister, we arrived at a funding arrangement where we would be funding both projects, and every time we have had a discussion with the federal government where they have offered to stump up a substantial amount of funds for a major road project in South Australia we have been there with the chequebook—we have been there.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I call the leader to order.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: So $124 million immediately on the table for the Darlington upgrade, and our 20 per cent share of the $985 million Northern Connector project, which was promised, as one of his last acts, by the former prime minister Tony Abbott. We will always be ready to find those funds when a federal government is prepared to do what it should do more often, and that's to put its own hand in its own sky rocket and make the money available for these projects.

That's why we have discussions with federal ministers where we continue year after year to say, 'Let's get in and fund the Strzelecki Track upgrade.' We have had discussions for years with them about co-funding that project on an up-front capital cost basis, but the feedback we get back from this ideologically driven Coalition government is, 'No, there has to be a private sector contribution to this.' That is why the Premier has given—

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order: standing order 98. It has been two minutes. The question is: is there $40 million on the table or not?

The SPEAKER: Is there $40 million on the table for either project? Minister.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Yes or no?

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon: No, he can answer any way he likes.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: That's why the Premier gave the analysis—

The SPEAKER: The member for Newland may know a lot about bondieuserie, but he doesn't know all that much about standing orders; he will be quiet. Minister.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: As I was saying, that is why the Premier gave the explanation about those discussions that we had been having and continue to have with the federal government about upgrades for the Strzelecki Track, and that is why, when it comes to this major road project, we will be ready to fund our share of that major upgrade duplicating the Joy Baluch AM Bridge.