Southern Expressway

Mr KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:54): Supplementary: my question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Does he now concede that the member for Unley's promise of a tender on day one of a Marshall government was inept?

The Hon. S.S. Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Premier, please cease interjecting. Minister.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (14:54): I think this, again, is a question that I have been asked before. If we were to take the opposition's suggestion about where we are right now—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —that would actually slow down the process. We would actually be further away from throw screens than we are. Here's the thing: we come into government—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left will cease interjecting.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —and we ask the question, 'What is the quickest way for us to be able to deliver these improvements—

Mr Mullighan: You got told that your promise was worthless.

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee is warned.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —to these infrastructure treatments on the Southern Expressway?' When the answer comes back, 'We can utilise an existing design and construct contract to put these things in place; that is the quickest way to get this done,' then that's what we do. We take the advice—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —and we actually do something that's even better. So, if we were to take the advice of members opposite, we would be further away. We would be going through a process to actually tender for a design and construct contract as opposed to using the flexible approach, the quick approach, of using the existing design and construct contract to deliver this solution as soon as possible. It's why we have not waited for throw screens as the only part of the solution. It's why we have worked to install over the coming weeks 2,000 square metres—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —of mesh on rocks across the various bridges. It's why we are upgrading CCTV as of yesterday. It's why we are looking at fencing to be installed at various sections over the coming weeks, and it is why we have expedited the design and construct process in relation to these throw screens. But, once again, we need to act responsibly. Governments need to be grown-ups. They need to take responsibility for what's happening in our community but also for what's happening on our assets. We will not do anything that compromises safety because, whilst these incidents are occurring—and they are disgusting, and we are extremely grateful for the work that South Australia Police is doing to bring these people to justice—we will not do anything that actually increases the risk of harm to South Australian motor users.