Augusta Highway

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome) (15:16): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister update the house on the progress of the rehabilitation of the section of Augusta Highway just south of Redhill, which is causing great concerns to all traffic movements? With your leave and that of the house, sir, I will explain further.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I wrote to the minister on 3 August last year and received a response dated 10 October last year, where the minister indicated, 'The department is currently working on scoping details for this section of the road.' It is nearly five months since the scoping was undertaken, and I would like this section of the highway to be rectified urgently to reduce the opportunities for any issues of safety and damage to cars and trucks.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:16): I thank the member for the question and note his interest. Of course, he would be well aware that we are putting some $210 million into upgrading a number of regional roads across South Australia and would note, in fact when he was in cabinet under the Labor government, how neglected the regional roads were. I know he would have an interest in that, having been aware of that at the time. But it's okay; we are getting on with fixing that. Augusta Highway is one that we are putting a considerable amount of money into, and we are doing the study works. I talked about the planning works—

Ms Hildyard: It took nine weeks to reply to his letter. Mind you, that's pretty quick for you, Corey.

The SPEAKER: Member for Reynell!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —previously that were not undertaken by those opposite, and it's a shame.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: It's a shame they didn't do that work. It's a shame they left our regional roads to deteriorate. I know the member for Frome would be equally disgusted with the way they left our roads. Again, I know he was in the cabinet at the time, but he would be disappointed with how they were left. We have got on with it. We have invested significant money. There is $1 billion going into our regional roads over the next four years. As I said, that's part of our $16.7 billion infrastructure spend. The member for Reynell doesn't like the fact we are investing money in regions and investing money in South Australia. She chortles away—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —any time I stand up and talk about this or the $214 million we put into sport at the last budget—more money than regional sport and community sport has ever seen before in South Australia. We are delivering. When it comes to infrastructure, our government is delivering, and Augusta Highway is having work done to it. I'm happy to take the specifics of that section of work and what is being done there right at this point in time.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: We have never put more money into regional roads than what this government is doing, and I am very proud of that.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Florey, I warn the member for Mawson for a second time, I warn the member for Hurtle Vale and I warn the member for Reynell.