Infrastructure Funding

Ms LUETHEN (King) (14:22): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is building what matters and creating jobs through a record $12.9 billion investment in infrastructure?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Point of order: the question contains debate, contrary to standing order 97.

The SPEAKER: I hear the point of order from the member for Lee. The question arguably introduces fact. The member for King might like to seek leave to introduce fact. I will give the member for King an opportunity to do that.

Ms LUETHEN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I might just adjust the question slightly. Can the Premier update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is creating jobs through a $12.9 billion investment in infrastructure?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:23): I certainly can, and I would like to thank the member for King for her excellent question and her focus on delivering what matters for the people of King. She has done an excellent job. Earlier this year, in mid-August, I was with the member for King when we were there to announce the opening of the new roundabout at Golden Grove Road and Hancock Road as part of stage 1 of that upgrade. I know there were a lot of happy, smiling faces, not only there on the day but in the electorate, who use that important piece of infrastructure on an ongoing basis—and this is part of our $12.9 billion investment in infrastructure in South Australia.

What we are doing, especially during this COVID time, is building the infrastructure which matters for our state. Whether it be roads, whether it be hospitals, whether it be schools, whether it be the important infrastructure required by the people of South Australia, that's exactly and precisely what we are doing. And along the way we are creating many thousands of jobs, jobs that are directly involved in construction but also those jobs that flow on indirectly to local communities, and that is something that we are very proud of.

What we know is that we are fixing our regional roads in South Australia, a very important infrastructure upgrade which has been needed for a very long period of time. Recently, in fact last Friday, I passed through Port Wakefield, and it was very pleasing to see that site which will soon be fixed with the Port Wakefield overpass and duplication project which we know will create a huge number of jobs.

We are dealing with an issue, which was talked about by the previous government over a long period of time, and that is the sealing of the Strzelecki Track in South Australia, and one that I know the member for Stuart and also many people who use that important stretch of road, from a mining perspective, a gas perspective or from a tourism perspective, know is an important piece of infrastructure for our state, so we are getting on and delivering it.

The removal of the Ovingham and Hove level crossings we know is going to create hundreds of jobs and improve productivity in our state and, of course, sir, as you would be more than aware, duplication of the Joy Baluch AM Bridge, again another piece of important infrastructure. I saw some early works on the project when I was in Port Augusta with the member for Stuart on Friday last week. On top of this investment, we are also delivering a further $52 million into regional road upgrades through our regional roads network package, which is part of our overall COVID stimulus.

We are also upgrading schools right across the state. There is a massive expenditure in our schools—$1.3 billion—including brand-new schools at Aldinga Beach and Angle Vale and, in particular, a brand-new school for Whyalla, which I had the great fortune to visit on my recent trip to that fantastic city in South Australia. It is absolutely fantastic to see that 97 per cent of the steel in that construction comes from GFG in Whyalla. I know this was a huge opportunity of pride for the local people in Whyalla.

We are also very significantly investing in our health facilities across South Australia. Significant improvements are being made to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the Modbury hospitals and, of course, one project those opposite absolutely hate because they tried to flog it off, and that's the Repat site. We know this is hugely of great interest not only to our veterans community but all communities in South Australia who love that site. There is a huge amount of expenditure also going into our regional hospitals in South Australia because we are getting on and we are delivering what matters for the people of South Australia. We are building what matters for the people of South Australia—$12.9 billion worth of builds at the moment—creating thousands of jobs for our state.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Before I call the leader, I call to order the member for Cheltenham, the member for Giles and the member for Lee.