Transport Infrastructure

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:19): Supplementary: the Treasurer has indicated that the money is maybe, possibly somewhere out there. He says that there is $1.2 billion needed for business cases.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: It's a long answer and I am allowing some clarification for the Leader of the Opposition.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Does that mean that if there is $1.2 billion of $1.8 billion awaiting business cases, there is $600 million that is allocated in the next four years, or is it under $165 million? Which is it?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:19): The subject of the negotiations that are going on between commonwealth and state offices at the moment, and exactly consistent with the Northern Connector project—

The Hon. K.J. Maher: Do you know how much is in the forward estimates?

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, you have—

The Hon. K.J. Maher: He doesn't know how much is in the forward estimates. How much?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: —they'll be bringing forward—

The Hon. K.J. Maher: How much? How much is actually in the forward estimates?

The PRESIDENT: We do not need a running commentary. Treasurer.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: They'll be endeavouring to bring forward some of the estimates—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, you have asked—sit down, Treasurer—your question, allow the minister to respond. Treasurer.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: How much do you reckon is in the forward estimates?

The PRESIDENT: No. Control yourself, Leader of the Opposition.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Mr President, he is still getting used to being in opposition. The situation is, as I have outlined twice now, exactly consistent with the Northern Connector Project and, I am advised, other projects in the past. Money which is allocated in the outer years of a commonwealth budget is negotiated by state governments to bring it forward into earlier years if the state government has done the work in relation to business cases and been ready to do the projects.

With some of the projects that have been announced, that is possible. With some of the projects—the two big ones between Darlington and the River Torrens—the former Labor government had not done the work, failed the people of South Australia, and the new government is going to have to do the business cases and take them through the Infrastructure Australia process to try to get that funding approved through that particular process.