Transport and Infrastructure Funding

Mrs POWER (Elder) (14:36): My question is for the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister please update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is working with the commonwealth to deliver record funding for roads and more jobs for South Australia?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:37): I thank the member for Elder for her question. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to talk about how South Australia is punching above its weight when it comes to securing record levels of funding to build the infrastructure that matters to the people of South Australia.

Yesterday was another happy day for South Australians when we opened up the paper and saw the great partnership we have forged with the Morrison Liberal government, the federal government, and their delivering $3.2 billion to help build what matters in our great state. This adds to our $16.7 billion of infrastructure that we are already rolling out, of course, and what happens with that? That delivers jobs for South Australians.

The federal government was very welcoming and very engaging when we negotiated this with them. The $3.2 billion injection into our economy will create some 5,000-plus direct and indirect jobs, which is a great win for South Australia. Again, as I pointed out, we are punching above our weight, and we should be incredibly proud of that. We have just secured more than $3 billion of funding so far, and that is more than Victoria, more than WA, more than Queensland, more than Tasmania, more than the NT, and we are only second to New South Wales, so really South Australia is doing an outstanding job.

I know that on that side they have been very negative. The only people who could be negative about getting $3 billion dollars plus from the federal government is South Australian Labor. They have been whingeing and carping like you wouldn't believe, but it's interesting: SA Labor complains about the $3 billion; Queensland Labor says we got too much. I don't know—they don't know what the left hand and the right hand are doing. They are a very divided shop.

I would like to thank the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison. I would like to thank the Deputy PM, Minister McCormack—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: They are waking up now—they are waking up about half an hour late. Goodness me! That's how asleep they are over there: they do not care.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Giles!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: We are getting on with the job, delivering $3 billion into our economy and they are just cracking gags on that side. I mentioned the Deputy Prime Minister—

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell: They have taken the knives out of the Balcony Room.

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson is called to order.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —Minister Fletcher as well, and, of course, Minister Birmingham, who were great to deal with to secure this massive amount of funding. There are no fights with Canberra on this side. This is what good negotiation and good teamwork do to get projects delivered for our state. I know this would keep the member for West Torrens awake at night. He would hate the fact that South Australia is doing so well, but it's what a good government does.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Here we go—he doesn't like it.

The SPEAKER: The minister will resume his seat.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right! The member for West Torrens on a point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I take offence at that comment. I am always pleased when South Australia does well—withdraw it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier will cease interjecting. I invite the minister to withdraw, the member having taken offence.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I will withdraw but make the point that he was the one who was out carping and complaining about the $3 billion plus and saying it wasn't enough. But let's run through some of the projects that we are going to be delivering for South Australia. The Augusta Highway, again a project that for 16 long years under Labor was ignored. It was called for by many people but Labor ignored this.

Mr Hughes interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Giles!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: In fact, they ignored the regions across the board. The RAA, the CCF and of course the Freight Council, as well as regional communities, have been calling for this project for a long period of time. From a safety point of view and from an economic point of view, this will increase productivity and be a great thing for the regions.

Of course, there are other projects as well. I talked about stage 2 of the Augusta Highway up to Lochiel as being a great result. We can talk about the Truro bypass as well, Mr Speaker; I know this is a project dear to your heart. We have started with $12 million to upgrade the road there. That was the COVID stimulus funding. Now we are going to be doing more to help improve that greater freight bypass around the top, heading onto the Sturt Highway and the Northern Connector. We know how important it is to get freight moving and get freight off the South Eastern Freeway as well.

We are upgrading roads on Kangaroo Island, the Strzelecki Track stage 2, the Heysen Tunnel stage 2, and also Sir Donald Bradman Drive and Marion Road, an important intersection that needs to be decluttered. That $3.2 billion is a great windfall for South Australia and we should be incredibly proud. There's the Eyre Highway and greater freight bypass, the planning works that we are going to be doing, and of course the $2.6 billion for the north-south corridor, which is an incredibly important project that we are getting on the table and getting on with to deliver for the people of South Australia.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Kaurna, I call to order and warn the member for Giles and I call to order the member for Light.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: When there is silence, I will call the member for Kaurna.