Flagstaff Road Upgrade

Mr MURRAY (Davenport) (15:05): My question is also to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: This won't be good, Stephan. Be careful.

The SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens, you can leave for the remainder of question time.

The honourable member for West Torrens having withdrawn from the chamber:

Mr MURRAY: Could the minister please update the house on the Marshall Liberal government's commitment to fixing Flagstaff Road?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (15:05): I thank the member for Davenport for this question and note that he is the true champion of fixing the fourth lane on Flagstaff Road and the champion in relation to this project. It is one on which members of Davenport previous have taken up the mantle. It is one that this member for Davenport is now able to show his community that he is delivering.

This is a project that we on this side of the house thought was a good idea for a long period of time and a commitment that we took to the election. We think it is important because it will improve commute times for local residents. We think it is important because it will provide the safest possible condition for road users. It will provide efficient access for emergency services to the suburbs connected to this road, and it will take pressure off South Road.

I think those four statements are things this house could all agree are a very, very good idea. What we have seen, though, is some Johnny-come-lately supporters of this project who have been writing to me in recent weeks, trying to claim credit for this. It is interesting because I have received correspondence from the federal member for Kingston, who does keep referring to it as Flagstaff Hill Road instead of Flagstaff Road. I have suggested maybe she gets the wording of it right if she wants to champion the project.

We have also had correspondence from the member for Hurtle Vale, who claims that she is a supporter of this project, except that when a motion with those four statements I read out earlier was debated in this house she voted against it. She voted against it and all members of the Labor Party voted against that motion, so to stand in this place now and say that they support this project is an absolute joke—an absolute joke.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Point of order: that seems like a reflection on a vote of the house to me.

The SPEAKER: I've got to be honest, there were significant interjections during that. Please do not reflect on a vote of the house, minister, if you were. Let's get on with it.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: Yes, sir. The other great news is that, as a result of the hard work of the Marshall Liberal government, we have actually been able to bring forward this project. It is a difficult project because the SA Water connection to the Happy Valley Reservoir that sits underneath and beside that road is an important piece of water infrastructure, and the Minister for Environment and Water has a very keen interest in ensuring that pipeline is maintained for all users of water in the southern suburbs.

Having negotiated now with SA Water in relation to relocation works that may need to go ahead, we are now able to accelerate the delivery of this project. When we originally envisaged it, major construction was going to begin in 2022. As of today, we are able to announce that the construction of this project is going to begin early next year.

This is such an important bringing forward of money for South Australians because not only is the project itself important; it is the fact that it is used by 20,000 motorists a day who are now going to get the benefit of a free-flowing, four-lane Flagstaff Road and it is also the jobs that come with it. Especially at a time when we are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to bring forward projects like this is so important.

For the 800 metres of this 3.3 kilometre length of road, we are going to see a massive improvement in something that has been a quirk of South Australian road infrastructure for decades. Something that has been championed by members of the Liberal Party for decades will now actually be delivered under this government. What I don't think we will stomach on this side of the house is the hypocrisy of those who are jumping on board, trying to claim credit for fighting for this project when they voted against support for this project in the first place.

The Hon. S.S. Marshall: And they don't know what it's called.

The SPEAKER: The Premier is called to order.