Infrastructure Projects

Mr MURRAY (Davenport) (14:25): My question is to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government. Can the minister update the house on the Transport and Infrastructure Council meeting held last week?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (14:25): I can, member for Davenport, I really can. I would also like to thank the member for Mount Gambier for giving me the opportunity to get along to the Transport and Infrastructure Council so that I could use that opportunity to lobby the federal government for funding for road projects in South Australia. I do also note that I haven't had any questions on Footy Express yet, but I'm sure they are coming, member for West Torrens.

One of the most important things that was discussed on the agenda last Friday at the Transport and Infrastructure Council was around how we make sure that the delivery of infrastructure projects around this country is done better. It is fair to say that we are in an environment, especially over the last few years and certainly over the projected four to six-year budget cycles and outside budget cycles, where the amount of money being spent on infrastructure around the country is unprecedented by a huge margin.

In fact, some of the estimates we looked at suggested that we could be spending three times as much over this next period as has been spent over the preceding decade on a year-by-year basis. This presents huge challenges. It presents huge challenges for us here in South Australia because we, by our very nature, by our spend, are not able to compete with the spends of the eastern seaboard. Nevertheless, this is a government that, in its budget, handed down $11.3 billion worth of infrastructure projects, the highest figure over a four-year period in this state's history.

That is our commitment to making sure that we stay ahead of the curve when it comes to delivering a beautiful, livable and productive city here in South Australia. One of the key things that we talked about, which other states in fact took for granted but which in South Australia we were applauded for, was the fact that we have now established Infrastructure South Australia—the idea that we would actually submit to external and independent analysis of the projects that we are seeking to secure funding for and deliver for the people of South Australia.

It is something that is part of the normal everyday workings of other states, especially New South Wales, which otherwise, before us, had the best model of an i-body around the country. We were applauded for that work and for the fact that we are now one of the jurisdictions—well, essentially everyone except Western Australia—keen to make sure that we get the best out of our significant infrastructure spend. This $11.3 billion is important not only for the projects that are being delivered but because we need to make sure that we have a strong pipeline of work for both our commercial construction sector and our civil construction sector.

That is not what we had when we first came to government, especially on the civil construction side. Going out and talking to businesses and workers on individual projects around the state, understanding what was coming next for them and how they were going to provide for their families, was a genuine question and one that, through the 2018-19 budget, this government was able to answer. The real opportunity for us in South Australia is to make sure that we get infrastructure planning, and planning more generally, right. We are unashamed on this side of the house about wanting to grow jobs and population for our economy in South Australia.

We know that a higher population growth scenario will deliver new jobs and new security for people who live in this state. Through putting $11.3 billion worth of hard-earned taxpayers' money on the table, we are going to make sure that we build our state so that we can essentially deliver a city that, when new people come to live in our state and when new people are born in our state, is kept the beautiful, livable place that Adelaide and South Australia is, but we welcome the new jobs and opportunities that come as we welcome new migrants into our beautiful state.

Ms Cook interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hurtle Vale is called to order.