Infrastructure Spending

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:37): I rise to speak on the federal government's lack of infrastructure spending in South Australia. What they fail to realise is that regional and other areas outside of Victoria and New South Wales are also in need of support for public infrastructure projects. Suffice to say, I was extremely disappointed with the federal budget delivered by the Turnbull government this year. Once again, South Australia was overlooked in favour of the Eastern States. Of the $70 billion allocated for infrastructure in the budget, South Australia will receive no new funding. Yes, you heard it right: zero dollars for South Australia. That means no new money for new infrastructure projects or roads for this state.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Port Augusta and meeting with members of the local community. Many people shared their frustrations about the federal government's abject failure to take charge in fixing the Joy Baluch AM Bridge. I was particularly saddened that the bridge, which runs through the national Highway One in Port Augusta, missed out on funding despite numerous representations made to the federal government in recent months.

My understanding is that, due to safety concerns, Port Augusta council closed the main pedestrian bridge in late March 2017. Pedestrians in Port Augusta must now use a pathway on the freight-heavy Joy Baluch AM Bridge. As a result of the increase in pedestrian traffic, the speed limit on this bridge has been reduced to 40 km/h.

With up to 6,000 vehicles crossing the bridge daily, it is not altogether surprising that the current situation is causing traffic congestion. There have been proposals to upgrade or duplicate the Baluch Bridge, which would be an invaluable project for a number of reasons. As a key freight route on a national highway, people travelling to Western Australia must cross this bridge. It is a major connector for motorists and truck drivers across the state, providing a direct route to the northern and western regions of the country.

This bridge is also crucial for our defence training needs, with the Australian Army transporting heavy military vehicles to and from the nearby Cultana Training Area. Furthermore, I am told that all emergency services, such as ambulances and hospitals, are situated on one side of this bridge—the eastern side. Local residents expressed their concerns to me that, if access to the bridge is limited for unforeseen reasons, it is extremely difficult for emergency services to attend accidents on the other side and people's lives may be in jeopardy. On 30 March 2017, the Liberal federal member for Grey said:

I think this is a very important issue and needs to be addressed immediately. Now the state will have a part to play in that, but predominantly the main bridge is about the commonwealth.

Despite his assurances that the federal minister is aware of the situation, South Australia deserves better than another one of the Turnbull government's piecrust promises—easily made and too easily broken.

The Baluch Bridge forms part of the national highway network, and as such ought to be funded on an 80/20 basis under the federal government's National Highway Upgrade Program, with the federal government contributing the greater part of the funding. Economists say that the federal government must take action now to ensure there is a healthy pipeline of productive infrastructure, creating jobs and boosting long-term economic growth.

Projects such as duplicating the Baluch Bridge, one of Port Augusta's major highways, would no doubt improve productivity and access and deliver untold benefits for residents in the area, as well as the many thousands of motorists passing through the town every day. I therefore join the community of Port Augusta in calling for the federal government to urgently heed these concerns and pledge much needed support for transport infrastructure in the region.