Eyre Peninsula Freight

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:45): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, representing the Minister for Transport, a question regarding the Eyre Peninsula rail network and Eyre Peninsula freight strategy.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: It was recently announced that the multinational grain handling group Viterra would cease using the Eyre Peninsula rail network to move grain. More than 30 people will lose their jobs when Viterra's contract expires on 31 May, but the decision is also expected to increase B-double truck movements on local roads in the broader region by about 30,000 a year. The current road infrastructure, linking the state's vital Eyre Peninsula and West Coast regions to the rest of the state and country, was not built and has not been upgraded to take such a significant influx of new heavy traffic.

Our federal Centre Alliance colleague, Senator Rex Patrick, and Centre Alliance's candidate for the federal seat of Grey, Andrea Broadfoot, have been pivotal in campaigning on this issue, and have called on the state government to urgently release the Eyre Peninsula freight strategy. The strategy was co-funded by the government and Genesee & Wyoming Australia, the operators of the soon to be defunct rail line, in 2017. This was to investigate options to keep the rail line open and to ensure that as many as possible grain trucks were kept off the roads. The report was handed to minister Knoll last year. My question to the minister is:

1. When does the minister plan to release the Eyre Peninsula freight strategy?

2. Why has there been such a significant delay in releasing it?

3. Has the minister been requested by his federal colleagues to delay its release because it may damage the re-election prospects of the current federal member, Liberal Rowan Ramsey?

The Hon. J.E. Hanson: Who?

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Rowan Ramsey.

4. Did the state government engage in negotiations with Viterra and GWA in a bid to get it to renew its contract with GWA?

5. Is the state government currently in talks with Viterra and GWA in a bid to get it to reverse its decision?

6. Does the minister have concerns about the impacts on road users of the additional 30,000 B-double truck movements in the region per year?

7. What budget is allocated for road infrastructure spending and traffic management on Eyre Peninsula to upgrade and maintain roads on Southern Eyre Peninsula?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:48): I thank the honourable member for his question and his ongoing interest in regional South Australia. Before offering to respond to those questions, I recall in this place, I think when the Hon. Patrick Conlon was minister for transport, that a scheme was set up by the former state government and levied grain growers (and put taxpayers' money into it as well) to refurbish and rebuild that rail network.

It seems very typical of things that happened in the last 16 years, because probably only about 13 years ago that particular rail network, after spending taxpayers' money and growers' money, having levied $2 or $5 a tonne—I don't recall the exact figure—from the grain growers, not much over a decade later it is not fit for purpose. I think it is symptomatic of a lot of the things that happened in the previous 16 years while we had a Labor government.

In relation to all of the honourable member's questions which were quite technical and quite detailed, I will refer them to my very hardworking and capable colleague the Hon. Stephan Knoll in the House of Assembly and bring back a reply.

The PRESIDENT: Will honourable members remember to call members of parliament, federal and state, by their seats.