Cape Jaffa Jetty Lights

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (14:52): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister advise when broken lights along the Cape Jaffa Jetty will be fixed? With your leave, Mr Speaker, and the leave of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr McBRIDE: Despite calls to the department from constituents, numerous lights on the jetty have been not working for more than 12 months. This has made it dangerous for fishers, tourists and those who use the jetty. And just recently I have heard about a boat rescue right now off Cape Jaffa as we speak.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:52): Yes, there is a search and rescue, I understand, occurring just off the shore near Cape Jaffa, and we wish police all the very best.

Jetties are very important to regional communities. They are a destination, they are important for people to teach their children how to fish, they are a great way to maintain social connections and they are a great tourist attraction. There is nothing better than visiting a regional town and taking your kids for a walk along the jetty and then getting an ice cream and some chips afterwards. It really is a great way to enjoy regional South Australia. I have to say they are the lifeblood of a lot of regional communities.

In terms of this jetty, I am aware that there are intermittent light outages, because the member has made me aware of it. An electrical contractor was engaged to investigate the fault in February. They have reported that out of the nine solar lights on the jetty two are working as designed, with issues encountered with the remaining seven. Based on these investigations, the department is liaising with the manufacturer to determine if repair is viable or if replacement is required. Given the lights are only five years old—so they are relatively new—the department is also investigating the potential for them being covered by warranty. We do get a lot of faults on jetties, and I would encourage members of the public and parliamentarians to let us know when there are faults. We do actually have a 1800 number: that's 1800 018 313.

An honourable member: Operators are standing by to take your call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Operators are standing by to take your call. In the most recent state budget—

Mr Telfer interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: 1800 018 313. In the 2023-24 state budget, the Malinauskas government stepped up, where others would not, providing $20 million through the SA Jetties Renewal Program, to partner with local councils, to fast track improvements and to make sure that sustaining infrastructure was looked after.

Funding is there designed to address immediate and critical concerns regarding the condition and sustainability of jetties: where they are closed to get them open and where they need repairs to repair them. In the 2024-25 state budget, the Treasurer announced that the Jetties Renewal Program will be extended indefinitely, which I think shows a long-term commitment for us, in partnership with local councils, to have a guaranteed revenue stream each year, which councils can bid against, and we can have matched dollars to work on the upgrade and maintenance of our regional jetties. Yes, there are some councils who wanted us to pay for everything, especially one council, Tumby Bay, who received a very large cash advance to fix its jetty and then moved that money for another jetty and then told us that we had to fix the Tumby jetty.

Mr Telfer: Be truthful.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I am being truthful. If you think I'm not being truthful, get up, move a motion, and see how you go. I am being truthful. Mr Speaker, I ask that the shadow treasurer withdraw that remark and apologise to the house.

The SPEAKER: The member for Flinders will withdraw and apologise.

Mr Telfer interjecting:

The SPEAKER: If a member takes offence at something that's been said and asks for it to be withdrawn, an apology.

Mr Telfer: Sorry? You've taken offence?

The SPEAKER: He's made it quite clear he's been offended by your comments.

Mr TELFER: Sir, I will withdraw the comment 'Be truthful.'

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Okay, let's move on. An historic moment in the chamber: we have a question, the very first question, from the member for Black. Here we go.