Transport Infrastructure

Ms LUETHEN (King) (14:23): My question is to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government. Can the minister inform the house of the impact of a continuing Morrison federal government on infrastructure and transport for South Australia?

The SPEAKER: That question is in order. Minister.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (14:23): How good is the Morrison Liberal government? It certainly is fantastic news for South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: And very, very good news for South Australia that the 11½ per cent—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition is called to order.

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan: It depends if you're a journalist being raided, I guess.

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee is warned.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. For that 11½ per cent of total share of funding that we were able to secure by sitting down and negotiating, like a bunch of mature adults, with the Morrison Liberal government, we have been able to make sure—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Minister, be seated for one moment. The member for Reynell and the member for Light are called to order. Minister.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Caught in the crossfire. The minister has the call.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Brown interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Playford is warned.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee is warned for a second and final time, and the member for Kaurna is called to order.

The Hon. A. Piccolo interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Light definitely said something then, and he is called to order and warned. Minister.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: There was a degree of concern, certainly a high degree of concern on my behalf and this government's behalf, in relation to the impact of the Morrison Liberal government not continuing with the massive haul of money that we have been able to secure for infrastructure projects here in South Australia.

After the return of the Morrison Liberal government and the return of ministers McCormack and Tudge in their respective positions as well as minister Cormann in his position, it is fantastic to be able to reaffirm the commitment to that massive amount of money and the way that we are working together to make sure that we can get this massive injection of funds out the door, seeing bitumen on the ground as soon as possible.

Whilst we did see a commitment on the north-south corridor as well as on the Brighton Road, Hove crossing by the federal members of those opposite, what we did not see was a commitment to any of the other projects here in South Australia. For the Torrens Road, Ovingham level crossing, we now have security that that project will go ahead. For the intersection upgrades at Portrush-Magill, Fullarton-Cross as well as Springbank/Goodwood/Daws roads, people will now know that those infrastructure upgrades will go ahead.

The Glen Osmond-Fullarton Road intersection, which the member for Unley has been harassing me about for a long period of time, will now continue to go ahead, as well as projects in Labor-held electorates, especially the intersections that I spoke about the other day on Main North Road, McIntyre, Kings, Grand Junction and Hampstead. Those projects will go ahead, no thanks to the help of the continuing federal Labor opposition.

More importantly, a massive amount of money is going to be injected into regional roads in South Australia. Again, this is fantastic for somebody who resides in country South Australia, who has had to wait for 16 patient, long years to see anybody willing to invest in country roads. The duplication of Victor Harbor Road between Main South Road and McLaren Vale, the $55 million for—

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell: In 2025.

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson is called to order.

Mr Basham: You told my wife you didn't want it.

The SPEAKER: The member for Finniss is called to order.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: He had 16 years to try to get something done and, quite clearly, couldn’t.

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell: We duplicated your stupid Southern Expressway.

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson is warned.

Ms Cook interjecting:

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

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: Also, the $55 million towards Horrocks Highway, which I know is an issue very close to the heart of all of us on this side of the chamber, South Australians can now have the confidence that this project will continue to go ahead.