Economic Stimulus Package

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (15:18): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. How many significant tourism infrastructure projects have been funded and works commenced as part of the government's initial $350 million stimulus package as announced by the Premier on 11 March?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (15:18): The tourism projects that we are discussing fall broadly—and apart from my department undertaking the building management processes for a number of those projects—within the Minister for Environment and Water's portfolio, especially as they relate to national parks, especially as they relate to essentially bushfire recovery works, especially on Kangaroo Island.

There is already work underway on a number these projects, getting them out there into the community and enabling that work to be undertaken on the ground. I expect those projects are rolling out as of now and will be over the course of the coming months. Whether it be tourism-related infrastructure, whether it be the bringing forward of maintenance in our hospitals, whether it be the bringing forward of maintenance across our housing sector and work that the South Australian Housing Authority is undertaking, or whether it be work within my own department, work has already been very significantly progressed to get these projects out there on the ground.

But there is another side to this equation and that is, as the Premier outlined, the fact that we need to spend this money properly and diligently. Again, we are the first jurisdiction in the country—

The SPEAKER: Point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The minister is debating. I asked for how many.

The SPEAKER: I have the point of order and I am listening carefully. Minister.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: It is important that we spend this money wisely. We were the first jurisdiction in the country—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: You haven't spent anything yet.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —to put money on the table for accelerated capital infrastructure projects. We are the jurisdiction across the country that is going to get work and is getting work onto the ground more quickly than anybody else, and this is all part of our plan to bring back South Australia stronger than it was before so that we can help our economy and help our community recover from this crisis.