Question Time

Transport Infrastructure

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure. How much has the Minister for Infrastructure secured for the north-south corridor over the next four years as a result of his special relationship with Canberra?

The SPEAKER: I call the minister. Despite the accusation of a 'special relationship' being commentary, I call the minister.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (14:07): There are just some people who cannot handle good news—who cannot handle good news.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: Do you know how much extra money was committed for the north-south corridor before Tuesday night's budget? Zero.

An honourable member: Zero!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: Zero is how much those opposite, when they were in government, could deliver on the next stage of the north-south corridor.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: Zero. As a result of last night's federal budget, we have $1.8 billion in new money—$1.8 billion in new money.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: Those opposite, before they start to bleat any further, I would remind them that one of the reasons, in fact the main reason, that we need to take time to deliver the next sections of the north-south corridor (except for the Pym Street to Regency), is because the business cases haven't been done. How are we supposed to tell the federal government what we want to build—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —unless we know what it is that we are going to build?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: It is like a recalcitrant year 9 student who just refuses to do their homework and then somehow whinges to the teacher because they got a poor mark. I'm sorry, that is not the way that projects are built in South Australia. Last night is unequivocally good news for South Australia—$1.8 billion of new money on the table, with all projects, except for the next stages of north-south (excluding Pym Street to Regency), in the forward estimates. The federal government are on the hook for these projects. They are committed to delivering this money, and now it is our job—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left, order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —to clean up the legacy mess that we have been left after 16 years of pet projects and actually get on and do our homework, that we can maybe aspire to more than a nine out of 20 or a 10 out of 20, that we can in South Australia actually have a grown-up government that is willing to do the work necessary.

We knew that this was an issue before the state election, which is why we took a policy of putting a couple of million dollars on the table to develop these next sections of the north-south corridor. We wanted South Australians to know that we were serious about delivering these projects and actually doing the work.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: The other thing I would like to point out is that those opposite would like to have us believe that somehow this is all just the federal government beating up on poor old South Australia. If the former Labor government was genuine about delivering the next stage of the north-south corridor, besides Pym to Regency, where was their money in the last state budget? It's a four-year budget—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —from 2018 right out to 2021.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: How much money for the next stages of the north-south did those opposite when they were in government—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: Zero. So do not stand here and lecture a new state government—

The SPEAKER: I will not stand anywhere.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —which in seven short weeks—

The SPEAKER: Minister, please direct your remarks through the Chair. Continue.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: Seven short weeks, Mr Speaker, that this government has had to secure $1.8 billion. Of course, there is more work to be done to reprofile this money in line with the projects and the order of priorities as they exist. We do have, with Gawler electrification and Pym Street to Regency Road, two projects that very easily can be brought forward in terms of when they are going to be delivered. But, when it comes to the Joy Baluch Bridge, which the member for Stuart has been on at me about for quite some time now, what stage is that business case development at?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: What stage is it at?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order! Leader, order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: Stage 1. And for those who don't know, do you know what stage 1 is? Identifying the problem. That's as far as members opposite got.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: The new state government—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —has been able to secure $160 million—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —off the back of the former government's stage 1. I think that's a pretty good effort. I think that's a pretty good effort. I look forward—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —to being part of a Marshall Liberal government that will deliver these projects, that will work constructively with the federal government to get the job done and clean up the mess that we have been left with after 16 years of waste.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order! Before I call the leader, when there are interjections I have to deal with those interjections. So, consequently, I will take the time to call the member for Light to order. The member for Lee is warned, and the member for Morialta will not taunt the opposition by asking them if they are enjoying it. The leader.