Torrens to Darlington Project

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:25): I rise to correct the record and give the local community in the southern suburbs factual accuracy about the Torrens to Darlington project that will shave around 20 minutes off their journey and enable them to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights and improve safety in their community.

As elected representatives, we have a responsibility to represent, advocate and inquire on behalf of our community. Perhaps more importantly, politicians are also a source of information for our communities and it is imperative that we pass on accurate information. The member for Badcoe, Jayne Stinson, gave a disgraceful and misleading address to this parliament on 18 November.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: The member for Badcoe's address was littered with misinformation—

The SPEAKER: Minister, there is a point of order raised by the member for West Torrens.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The minister just accused the member for Badcoe of misleading the parliament. He cannot do that without a substantive motion, and he used her name rather than her appropriate title. I ask him to withdraw and apologise immediately.

The SPEAKER: That may be, but it might also be that the member for Badcoe would raise that matter with me, in which case I would hear the member for Badcoe.

Ms STINSON: I raise that matter with you, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: I understand that the member for Badcoe has taken offence. The standard is a subjective one, minister, and as a result I give you the opportunity to withdraw and apologise.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Mr Speaker, I withdraw and apologise, and I will rephrase.

The SPEAKER: Very well. The minister has the call.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: The member for Badcoe, Jayne Stinson, gave a disgraceful address to the parliament on 18 November. The member for Badcoe's address was littered with misinformation designed to fearmonger within the community. Firstly, the member for Badcoe asserted that the people of Badcoe are not the beneficiaries of the tunnel.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, there is a point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Standing order 127, personnel reflections on members:

A Member may not…impute improper motives to any other Member.

The minister just said that the member for Badcoe was deliberately trying to incite some sort of behaviour among her constituents by giving inaccurate information. That is incorrect, and the minister should apologise and withdraw immediately.

The SPEAKER: My attention has been drawn to standing order 127. I understand that the minister has withdrawn and apologised. It may be that there was an additional statement that followed the withdrawal and apology, but in any event that may be a matter that the member for Badcoe would, again, raise with me.

Ms STINSON: I raise that with you, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Very well. I understand, minister, that offence has been taken in relation to words following the withdrawal and apology. I understand that there may have been reference to a disgrace or other matter. In any event, the most straightforward way to resolve it may be just to withdraw and apologise and then we will continue. I will listen carefully to your remarks.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Thank you, sir. I just seek clarification on what words are offensive?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! As I understand it, there was a reference to a matter of disgrace. It is not entirely clear what that matter is, but in any event the member for Badcoe has taken offence. Minister, it is a subjective standard. A further apology may be a course which you adopt, in which case I will then listen carefully. I also remind members that it is important that members making a grievance contribution be heard, so I will listen carefully to the minister. It may be that a further withdrawal and apology would resolve the matter, minister.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I seek your clarity here, sir. I did describe the address as disgraceful. That is my opinion and I put that on the record.

The SPEAKER: It may be your opinion, minister, but whether or not it is your opinion is not material to the subjective standard that applies to the point of order that the member for Badcoe has raised with me.

What is important, and I emphasise this, is that the member for Badcoe has taken offence, not that you consider it not to be offensive. That clearly is not the standard. As I say, it is a subjective standard and I invite you to withdraw and apologise in relation to this suggestion that there is a matter of disgrace.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I withdraw and apologise.

The SPEAKER: Very well. I will listen carefully to the remainder of your remarks. I ask that the minister not be interrupted. However, minister, it is important that your contribution remain well within the standing orders.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Mr Speaker, I am a bit perplexed with the sensitivity of the member for Badcoe, but we do need—

The SPEAKER: Well, that, minister, again brings the standing order into clear focus. It is a subjective standard and I ask you not to reflect on a member, under 127. The standing order is clear minister.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I appreciate that, sir.

The SPEAKER: Continue your remarks.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: The member for Badcoe's address was littered with the misinformation designed to fearmonger within the community. Firstly, the member for Badcoe asserted the people of Badcoe are not beneficiaries of the tunnel. This is incorrect. This claim is simply false and ignoring the massive benefits people living in Plympton, South Plympton, Ascot Park, Edwardstown, Kurralta Park, Ashford, Keswick, Black Forest, Clarence Park, Clarence Gardens, Everard Park, Millswood, Marleston and Netley will receive.

Most of these residents are likely to see uplift in their property values once the project is complete, as they are close to the tunnel portal and will have 130,000 less vehicles on the South Road surface road. Modelling shows a $2 billion property value uplift along the Torrens to Darlington stretch of the north-south corridor, and the residents of these suburbs will be the beneficiaries of that, contrary to what the member for Badcoe has claimed in this place. These suburbs, as she said, will not be the beneficiaries of the tunnel when in fact they will.

Further, those living in these suburbs will be close to the tunnel portal, meaning they have the easiest access to hop on the north-south corridor and be in the Barossa to the north or McLaren Vale and Aldinga in the south without encountering a traffic light on the north-south corridor. Aside from the travel times and improved road safety, we are also investing $125 million to green the communities, plant more trees and deliver more local community projects to improve livability. The people of these suburbs will reap some of those benefits too.

The government has been transparent regarding the property impacts of this project, and we acknowledge that residents of Glandore will be affected. However, it is both right and courteous to speak directly to the property owners being impacted before the design is released more broadly. The member for Badcoe went on to say, and I quote, 'I requested an urgent briefing from the minister because I wanted accurate information to share with the people.'

I agree with the member on this front and organised that briefing for the benefit of her community. Unfortunately, the member for Badcoe's office cancelled this briefing the day before it was scheduled in late October. To me, that shows that the member for Badcoe is being disingenuous.

Members interjecting:

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

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: If she truly cared about the community and she wanted to get them accurate information, she would not have cancelled that briefing. The member for Badcoe also asserts, and I quote, 'I have been sent absolutely no information at any stage from the department or the minister as the elected representative for this area, despite repeated requests.' This is factually incorrect.

The member for Badcoe was first briefed in person on 22 December 2020. Since that time, I am advised that the member for Badcoe has only written to my office requesting information about this project five times, from which we have responded—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —to three, addressing her concerns, and the remaining two were received in November this year and a reply is being provided.

In addition, the member for Badcoe asked 43 questions on notice in parliament for which she received a response to all 43 before she made the above statement about receiving no information. The member for Badcoe's statement was again false, misleading and designed to fearmonger in the community, in my opinion. The member for Badcoe—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order, minister. Under standing order—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The minister has again accused the member for Badcoe of misleading this house. He has done it now on three occasions. I ask him to withdraw and apologise or move a substantive motion.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister please be seated. I hear members out, under standing order 134 in relation to the matters that the member for West Torrens has raised. Minister, standing order 127 provides a prohibition in relation to personal reflections on a member. I draw attention in particular to standing order 127(3), which prohibits you from making personal reflections on any other member. As well, standing order 127(2) prohibits all members, including you, from imputing improper motives to any other member.

However, in this instance, the matter has been raised by the member for West Torrens and not from the member for Badcoe. I warn you, minister, and I allow you to continue your remarks. You are warned.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: The member for Badcoe has also made a host of assertions about the property acquisition process. The truth is that those with affected properties are being engaged directly by the department, and any information they require should be sought through their case manager.

I have been advised—and I hope that it is not true—that there have been Facebook posts that have been put up about this project and then deleted because information has not been correct. It has been inaccurate and misleading for the community. I would encourage the community to use the department as the source of truth.

Ms STINSON: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Minister, please be seated, there is a point of order. I will hear the member for Badcoe.

Ms STINSON: I raise standing order 127, which is personal reflections on members. The minister is clearly alleging that I have done something true, but then saying that he does not know if it is true. This is clearly absolutely outrageous behaviour and I would ask him to apologise and withdraw these statements.

The SPEAKER: Minister, I have warned you in relation to standing order 127. The member for Badcoe has indicated that she has taken offence in relation to matters that you have raised. You may wish to withdraw and apologise. I also emphasise that, if there are allegations that any member has misled the house, that is a matter that ought be raised, for example, under a matter of privilege. You have not raised a matter of privilege with me, therefore I have warned you in relation to standing order 127. I give you the opportunity to withdraw and apologise.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I withdraw and apologise. I would encourage the community to use the department as the source of truth via the website, via their case managers, through the mailing list and so on. With the remaining time, I would like to list some quick facts about the Torrens to Darlington project.

The SPEAKER: You may well take that course, minister, but as I understand it you have not withdrawn and apologised. The standard—

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I did.

The SPEAKER: You did? Very well. I hear you in relation to that matter. Minister, please continue.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Hurtle Vale! I am going to indulge the minister because there have been a number of points of order. I will continue to hear the minister.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: It will save motorists around 20 minutes. You will be able to drive from Torrens to Darlington in around nine minutes. Motorists will be able to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights, road safety will be improved and $125 million is being spent on green communities to plant more trees and improve local community infrastructure, such as parks and open spaces. Property value uplift along this stretch of South Road is estimated to be $2 million and it will create 4,900 jobs.