Regional Roads

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:42): Today, I wish to speak on the great importance of regional road funding by the state and federal governments, specifically the funding in the north and north-west of our state.

It is a terrible reality that, year to date, we have seen a horrific road toll on our roads. The toll this year is 53 fatalities compared to 34 for the same time last year. To put this into perspective, this is one death on our roads for every three days of this year—that is, one death every three days. It is truly horrific.

While not all of these have been in the north and north-west of our state, the fact is that a short Google search will reveal that many of them were. You will also find, in such a short Google search, no shortage of announcements and commentary made by Liberal members for those areas, both state and federal, about how road upgrades are needed—and, indeed, endlessly promised.

The issue I want to raise is that we continue to wait on the state and federal Liberal governments to actually do anything meaningful about regional roads in these areas. One poor example of overhyped and underdelivering by Liberal members here and in Canberra is the Horrocks Highway project. To date I am aware that the promised federal funds for this project have not been received by the state Liberal government as part of the 80-20 funding split arrangement for the project.

It is a fact that there are now just two possible payment dates left this year, and the federal government has not yet delivered the funds. We await them arriving. Surely the Liberal Party will not continue to let its constituents down. One would hope that the funds were not promised as part of some sort of election commitment with no intention for them to ever actually be delivered.

Am I cynical? Does that happen? Perhaps I am just a little; but before the Liberal Party can assure me that they will be upgrading projects like the Horrocks Highway I remind them that there is form for them engaging in all talk and no action on regional roads.

The Liberals have famously promised to duplicate the Augusta Highway between Port Wakefield and Port Augusta. How much have they promised to deliver that? It was $64 million. That is a joke. It is a cruel one, surely, to anyone who has ever driven on those roads, like I have—they are dangerous.

The Liberals' announcement of $64 million to duplicate the Augusta Highway is cruel and it is a sham, given that the most recent estimate put the cost of the project at $1.2 billion. I rush to say that I would welcome the funds—I like funds from Canberra—but the fact is that they were only promised in the final week of a federal election campaign; it was an afterthought, a cheap press release.

As I said, the Civil Contractors Federation of South Australia has backed in the cost of the 200-kilometre stretch being upgraded. They say that it will cost about $1.2 billion. It is not a partisan thing, it is a fact. This means that the Liberals' cruel and pathetic commitment covers just 5 per cent of the cost. Steven Marshall, the Premier, has said that his relationship with the federal Liberals will pay huge dividends. One wonders how getting $64 million for a $1.2 billion job is huge.

Recent media on the economy, found again by any easy Google search, will reveal that we are at risk of the economy taking a significant downturn. The South Australian economy will not be immune from that. We need a lift and rural road projects are an excellent way to deliver them.

The federal government has committed to the Port Wakefield overpass, upgrading Horrocks Highway, duplicating the Augusta Highway and the Joy Baluch Bridge. When will we see the funds for these grand promises made by the federal and state Liberals? Do we cross our fingers? Do we hold our breath? Are they just more promises and press releases? I hope not.