Augusta Highway

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:33): My question again is for the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. When will the state government commit funds towards a joint state-federal upgrade of the Augusta Highway to two lanes in each direction, from Port Wakefield to Port Augusta?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:34): As members would be aware, in 2013 the government released its draft infrastructure, transport and land use plan, which identified that particular road upgrade, the duplication of the Augusta Highway, as a long-term priority for transport infrastructure upgrades. After a period of consultation, we then finalised that plan and released it in 2015. I don't have the document in front of me but, if my memory serves me correctly, it remains a priority for South Australia, albeit in the long term.

I would have thought that, given the conversation we have just had in this chamber about other priority transport projects, like the Strzelecki Track or, more to the point, about the duplication of the Joy Baluch AM Bridge, we would be best off focusing our efforts on securing funding for those projects. I understand the strategy we are going through today and that's: let's highlight just how much money the state Labor government is putting into regional roads and the vast disparity between us and them.

Let's also highlight for the record in Hansard the fact that, while they have been representing regional seats for 16 years in South Australia, they have never gone to an election with a commitment to fund any of the projects that they continue to raise now. In fact, given that we are less than six months away from the next state election, they still refuse to take a policy to the next election to fund these projects. The only thing they have committed to is a $20 million a year funding cut for regional roads. That's what you get when you get a latte-sipping member for Dunstan leading your party.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: It's the kind of coda we have come to expect from ministerial answers.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order: standing order 98, unprovoked debate.

The SPEAKER: I don't think it's actually expressed that way, member for Stuart.