Outer Areas Registration Concession

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson) (14:41): My question is to a great friend of Kangaroo Island, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister update the house on the outer areas concession?

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:41): I thank the member for this important question, and it was great joining him and my cabinet colleagues on Kangaroo Island last week. One of the key election commitments the member for Mawson insisted we take to the last election was to reintroduce the outer areas concession—an initiative that targeted some of the most vulnerable communities for cost-of-living assistance. Some political genius, some master strategist, on the now opposition benches thought it was a good idea to remove this concession. What genius could be at work to think it was a good idea to hit some of the most regional remote communities, from a political party that professes to be of the regions?

An honourable member: 3D chess players.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: 3D chess players—I can't compete with the political prowess of such people. This is really quite masterful. It was a decision that saw registration costs for Kangaroo Island and other remote areas increase overnight by 50 per cent. What a genius move! It was 50 per cent for light vehicles and 40 per cent for heavy vehicles that were eligible for the scheme.

However, effective from 1 July 2022, after the change of government and after a decisive election result, which saw Kangaroo Island for the first time in its history endorse a Labor candidate—a remarkable result. In fact, I remember in 1993 there were some booths where Labor only scored one vote, and Michael Atkinson and myself were trying to identify the one person who voted Labor in that booth so that we could thank them personally. But I think now the reverse might be true.

Today, I can inform the house that in the first 12 months of operation that scheme has benefited 12,623 vehicle registrations across the state, saving regional communities just over $3.1 million. Specifically, for the people of Kangaroo Island, 5,411 vehicle registrations have benefited from the reintroduction of the scheme, returning to that island $1.2 million in precious money that they can spend on cost-of-living relief. That is a remarkable result—entirely on a result of the election of this government based on the advocacy of their local MP who fought for them, who fought for them day and night, and that MP is the member for Mawson.

That's more money back into the pockets of the people of Kangaroo Island, Coober Pedy and Roxby Downs—again, another advocate, the member for Giles. Not only is this initiative providing some relief to our remote communities, as I previously informed the house, but this initiative is also supporting local small businesses. The member for Mawson has informed me that a trucking company in his electorate will save up to $70,000 per year on registration costs—so much for the party opposite being the party of lower costs on business.

I thank the member for Mawson and the member for Giles for their continued advocacy on this issue since 2020 in making sure that a Labor Party in opposition took to the election this policy to reverse this genius piece of tactical political advantage moved by some genius opposite who thought it would be a good idea to attack regional communities in this way. What an appalling decision by members opposite. What a mean-spirited and small decision made by members opposite, mean-spirited and arrogant, people who thought maybe the second term was already won.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Mawson!