Marion Road-Sturt Road Intersection

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley) (15:35): My question is to the Premier. Will the Malinauskas government commit to funding upgrades to the intersection of Marion and Sturt roads? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: The recent release of the RAA's 2024 Risky Roads survey shows that the Marion Road-Sturt Road intersection has been classed as Adelaide's most dangerous for the past three years running. An elected Coalition federal government has committed to provide $40 million for the upgrade.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (15:36): I heard the announcement of Ms Flint and Mr Pasin for their very generous $40 million contribution to a $200 million project. I am just not sure that they thought this through. There are a couple of reasons why I think they have not thought this through. The works that we are doing on the north-south corridor will do a great deal to alleviate a lot of the congestion on that road. There is no doubt that intersection needs upgrading; the government accepts that.

If we did that work now, before the north-south corridor was completed, it would be very hard for us to model exactly what traffic conditions we need to be building for given the change in patterns of behaviour that will be occurring as a result of the north-south corridor being completed. We are undertaking a study of that road as we speak. It seems to me what is actually happening is that Ms Flint and Mr Pasin have read the room, are becoming increasingly desperate about her predicament in the seat of Boothby and are making pronouncements and announcements that are not based on what is actually in accordance with good governance.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: Point of order, sir: the minister is entering debate.

The SPEAKER: I will continue to listen to the minister, if he continues.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I am very keen, because I have been lobbied very hard by the member for Gibson and others about this intersection. For this intersection, the $40 million contribution, quite frankly, is a bit of a joke and relatively insulting to the people of the local community. What Ms Flint has not considered, of course, are the 20 to 40 homes and businesses we might need to compulsorily acquire in and around that area.

I know that Ms Louise Miller-Frost is speaking to those households about the Liberal Party's plans to compulsorily acquire their homes to upgrade this intersection for the very benefit of Ms Flint's election announcement rather than actually improving the intersection. What Nicolle does is she turns up, does a video, talks to no-one and announces that they are going to be undercontributing to an intersection. When you point out that we have actually—

Mr TEAGUE: Point of order: standing order 98(a). The minister is clearly doing something other than answering the question. It looks a bit like he is attempting debate. He needs to answer the question.

The SPEAKER: The question was whether the government supports a Liberal proposition from the federal Coalition, and the minister is answering it. The minister will continue his answer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I am very concerned. On that intersection, there is a business that is investing millions and millions of dollars in building a new structure to create a business. Ms Flint would have us demolish that. I have to say that I would rather do the detailed planning. We are spending $15 billion to upgrade the north-south corridor to alleviate a lot of the traffic on Marion Road, on Sturt Road, on South Road, on Goodwood Road and on Unley Road because of what is occurring on the grid network. So I don't think members have thought this through. Is the intersection in need of an upgrade? Yes, it is. Is $40 million enough? No, it's not. Has Nicolle Flint thought this through? No, she hasn't. Does Tony Pasin add value?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: This is where I disagree with my friends: he does add value, but to us.