Question Time

Torrens to Darlington Project

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:01): My question is to the Acting Premier. Has the Acting Premier received confirmation from the Prime Minister that the federal government will fund half of the Torrens to Darlington section of the north-south corridor and, if not, why not? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: On 1 November the Treasurer said that the north-south corridor would be paid for:

… with taxes raised by the commonwealth government and it will be paid for through taxes raised by the South Australian government. If you want the answer to who is paying for it—well, all of us and many other Australians are. That's the simple truth of it.

Yet the Torrens to Darlington stage of the north-south corridor did not appear on any of federal Labor's budget papers.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:02): The federal budget, I understand, is in May, and I understand that the Prime Minister, who was the former infrastructure minister, is a great fan of the north-south corridor. Indeed, you could argue he is the father of the north-south corridor. Indeed, he is someone who has a deep, abiding affection for our state. He is here right now with the Premier, and he is someone who I know will do everything he can to make sure that South Australians get the very best outcome out of the commonwealth government.

Mr Tarzia: Talk is cheap. Show us the money.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: So are interjections—and if you have a question, make one. If you don't, sit quietly.

The SPEAKER: The minister will not respond. The minister will direct his comments through the Chair and to the question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Hartley is warned. The minister has the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: While the question is out of order, given that I am not responsible for the commonwealth budget and neither is the South Australian government, across the forward estimates we have over $9 billion available between the state and commonwealth governments for the Torrens to Darlington project. We inherited a project that was substandard. We inherited a project—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley is warned for a second time. The minister has the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: In fact, it was so substandard that the previous government actually believed that you could exit the tunnels to come onto Anzac Highway with a single-lane exit, landing in the middle of—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Unley is warned; the member for Badcoe is warned.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

Ms Stinson: It beggars belief.

The SPEAKER: The member for Badcoe is warned for a second time. Minister.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It is important to note that when this project—which ran through a number of seats that the then government wanted to hold, they were comprehensively and roundly defeated in those seats. Why? In a large part due to their tin ear to the public about how they conducted themselves with their consultation and compulsory acquisitions, in direct comparison to the approach taken by this government. We have seen a more consultative approach, we have been talking to the local community, we have been working with them, we have come up with a new program that is appropriately funded—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —and realistic in its delivery. The previous government thought that they could build the north-south corridor for $9.9 billion, and the advice from my department was that this was not feasible. Indeed, I am advised that they even believe, the department even believes, that the project we inherited was unbuildable.

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley is on three warnings.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The chief executive we inherited, Mr Braxton-Smith, the first briefing I received from him was, 'I think we're going to need more money,' because I think they were trying to meet a political deadline rather than an engineering deadline. It is important to note that we put the politics to one side and actually engaged with our local community about this build and how it would impact South Australians. The elevated roadways are gone, the canopy has been saved, we are seeing more investment in green spaces, more connectivity, and the results speak for themselves.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Flinders.