Infrastructure Projects

Ms LUETHEN (King) (15:27): Good things are certainly on the way. Together, we are building what matters. South Australia's record $12.9 billion investment in infrastructure over four years is so important because it will create thousands of local jobs and see improvements to our state's roads, schools, hospitals and housing. This spend is also fundamental to our recovery and rebuilding efforts post the South Australian bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic.

Infrastructure projects will improve the lives of everyday South Australians, supporting communities, families, businesses and industries to thrive, and sustaining jobs in the future. South Australians will notice the big changes, whether it be intersection upgrades, public transport improvements or building and improving our state's hospitals and our state's schools. The jobs created through this $12.9 billion in infrastructure investment by the Marshall Liberal government are important to people living in King for so many reasons.

We know that working, whether paid or unpaid, is good for our health and wellbeing. It contributes to our happiness, helps us to build confidence and self-esteem and rewards us financially. Jobs help us buy a house, keep paying off our house, pay the rent, raise a family and put healthy food on the table. Jobs enable us to socialise, build contacts and find support. Jobs provide us with money to support ourselves and explore our interests. Jobs enable us to set and achieve goals.

Jobs have always been important to my family. My grandfather on my dad's side worked hard as a wharfie. My grandparents on my mum's side worked hard in the Caroma factory making toilet seats. My mum worked in retail and at SAPOL, and my extremely hardworking dad, a fitter and turner who just retired at 70, worked in great South Australian businesses, including the West End Brewery, Arnott's and Holden's.

At 12, I had my first job sweeping a very large car park at the Hollywood Drive-In at 5am, before the trash and treasure started. Then, at 15, I knocked on doors in the city to find my next job, which was washing dishes at a cafe in Adelaide. As a child growing up in and experiencing violence, I think always being busy—working, playing netball and learning—was what helped me cope and become resilient.

Working hard prepared me for my future, and now my focus is working hard every day on what matters most for people and businesses in the King electorate. What are some of the investments in King? At a local level, we are seeing 65 jobs created for the Golden Grove Road upgrade. Excitingly, stage 1 of the Golden Grove Road upgrade is nearly complete. This upgrade delivers safe paths to walk on, a smooth road to drive along, kerbs, stormwater drainage, lighting and traffic flow improvements. It is 20 years overdue, but now we are delivering.

Our government is delivering better services at Modbury Hospital and Lyell McEwin Hospital—better services and more jobs. The Modbury Hospital upgrade of outpatient services, an expanded operating theatre and emergency and palliative care, creates 160 jobs and a $96.6 million investment. The Lyell McEwin Hospital emergency expansion creates 71 jobs and a $58 million investment. The extensive upgrades of our local hospitals are part of our billion-dollar health infrastructure build across the state. We are committed to ensuring the north and the north-east communities have access to quality healthcare services.

We are investing in better educational outcomes for local students at Golden Grove Primary School, 15 jobs created and a $6 million investment; Greenwith primary, 12 jobs created and a $5 million investment; and Golden Grove High School, 38 jobs created and a $15.5 million investment. In our local environment, we are investing $1 million upgrading the existing trail network along the Little Para River and Dry Creek and building new trails. We are planting 10,000 native trees along the Little Para River and its catchment, which will enhance our open space and give us amazing local places to explore.

I am so proud to be working with the Marshall Liberal government to create more jobs and an improved future in South Australia. Our future certainly is bright. More broadly in Adelaide, the Lot Fourteen precinct, a $1.7 billion investment, is creating approximately 815 jobs. It just keeps coming: more jobs and a better future.