Waterproofing Eastern Adelaide Project

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:36): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation questions about the Waterproofing Eastern Adelaide project.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: Recently, I received some correspondence from a constituent who is involved in the Waterproofing Eastern Adelaide project. He has confirmed to me that $7.5 million of commonwealth funding for this project is being held up by the state government. This delay has forced him and the pipe-laying contractor to lay off workers and there is concern that the project will no longer go ahead as its deadline is June 2016. My questions to the minister are:

1. What is the reason for the delay in the delivery of funding for this project to contractors?

2. Is the future of the Waterproofing Eastern Adelaide project secure?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:36): One is very tempted to slap this one right out of the ballpark. To give the honourable member his answer: go and talk to your federal colleagues; they are the ones who are holding up the funding. The Liberal government in Canberra, your colleagues, are the ones holding back the Waterproofing Eastern Adelaide Project and the funding program of $7.5 million. Go and talk to the Liberals. You are part of their party, apparently. They are the ones you need to talk to; they are the ones who are holding up the whole program.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: Point of order, Mr President. Since it is up to you, Mr President, to maintain order in this place you might want to point out to your minister that he is to address the opposition through you as President.

The PRESIDENT: I'm glad we're all experts.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: If you don't mind me interrupting with my point of order.

The PRESIDENT: The honourable minister, continue.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Tell the Hon. Mr Stephens to go and talk to the Liberals. They are the ones who are holding up the funding for this project. Mr President, tell the Hon. Mr Stephens to go and talk to his Liberal mates, who don't give a damn for South Australia, don't give a damn for delivering projects here; and it's his mates, his colleagues, his party that are holding up that funding.