North-South Corridor

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:49): It goes without saying that we have all had a tough year. As we commence moving from a COVID-affected state to a post-COVID era of reconstruction, we need to be looking wherever we can for the projects and programs that will build our state and build on the reputation as one of the most livable places in the world. From tourism to manufacturing, the government needs to be working to secure and to lock down every single job we have, but it is also incumbent on the government to do everything it can to create every job that it can.

So it is a bit of a mystery why, in the most recent budget of the Marshall government—the highest spending budget ever—we are not starting work on the north-south corridor right now. We know that major infrastructure projects like the north-south corridor are a major driver in creating jobs; it goes without saying. And we know that this project, once started, will create jobs well into the other half of the next decade. But the soonest, we are told, that the Marshall Liberal government can start on the $1 billion north-south corridor is in late 2023.

The Marshall Liberal government has been in government already for over two years, but, like something out of the popular ABC comedy Utopia, today the Premier dons a hard hat, stands in front of a big drill and declares, 'I have almost decided to start.' The fact is that on Premier Marshall's time line we will have another Olympic Games and another federal election started and completed before he even breaks ground or creates one single job.

To be clear, I welcome the announcement of the Marshall Liberals on their preferred plan for the north-south corridor, which they have decided, after 2½ years, is a tunnel. I just cannot understand why it cannot start sooner. Why do we have to wait three whole years for major work to begin? Why can they not issue a design and construct tender as soon as possible? From delays around hospital construction and the famous right-hand tram turn to delays around its backflips on closing Service SA centres to denying and then stalling and then backflipping on closing bus routes and bus stops, why does recognising basic common sense take so long with the Marshall Liberal government?

It certainly is not for lack of enthusiasm from the new minister, Minister Wingard. Before the budget, he said, about the north-south corridor, that, 'This is a really big project,' somewhat stating the obvious, minister. Then he said:

…as we roll that project out we need to make sure we're taking people on the journey of that because that is a substantial build for South Australia and an exciting one.

Let me assure Minister Wingard, South Australia is on the journey and we are excited, at least as excited as you can get about a major transport project. We are excited, we just do not know why you cannot turn the ignition and get on the road. The north-south corridor is not being delayed by Labor. We support starting the journey of Minister Wingard as soon as possible.

We know it can be done. The fact is, between 2014 and 2018 Labor was able to get the job done. We designed, planned and commenced major construction on the Torrens to Torrens, Darlington and the Northern Connector. We also started the Regency to Pym project, the O-Bahn access project and the Torrens rail junction project, more than $2.5 billion worth of projects, completed in four years.

We know we need it. With over 200,000 South Australians unemployed or underemployed and the JobSeeker safety net being slashed by $100 a fortnight from 1 January, the need to invest in major infrastructure projects to create jobs has never been clearer. We know the Marshall Liberal government must know this too. Yesterday's Marshall Liberal budget made clear that zero jobs growth in our state is predicted until after the end of the financial year. Our unemployment was already the highest in the nation before COVID, and with the federal Liberal government saying it is going to be post 8 per cent after the financial year, the fact is we are going even higher.

There really cannot be any reason the Marshall Liberal government cannot start today. Why do we have to wait until after the next state election to even start? Perhaps it is because the Marshall Liberal government knows the simple fact that if you want to get something like the north-south corridor started, you need a Labor government to start it.