Legislative Council Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Transport Infrastructure Transport Infrastructure The Hon. K.J. MAHER Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition 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 Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: It's a long answer and I am allowing some clarification for the Leader of the Opposition. The Hon. K.J. MAHER Legislative Council 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 Legislative Council Treasurer 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 Legislative Council The Hon. K.J. Maher: Do you know how much is in the forward estimates? The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, you have— The Hon. K.J. Maher Legislative Council The Hon. K.J. Maher: He doesn't know how much is in the forward estimates. How much? The Hon. R.I. LUCAS Legislative Council The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: —they'll be bringing forward— The Hon. K.J. Maher Legislative Council The Hon. K.J. Maher: How much? How much is actually in the forward estimates? The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: We do not need a running commentary. Treasurer. The Hon. R.I. LUCAS Legislative Council The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: They'll be endeavouring to bring forward some of the estimates— The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting: The President Legislative Council 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 Legislative Council The Hon. K.J. Maher: How much do you reckon is in the forward estimates? The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: No. Control yourself, Leader of the Opposition. The Hon. R.I. LUCAS Legislative Council 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.