Regional Roads

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON (14:54): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the minister for regional South Australia on regional roads.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.A. Simms: Good luck getting a response.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Simms!

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON: Hopefully I will get a response, the Hon. Mr Simms. The RAA is calling for $750 million from the state government over the next four years in the upcoming budget to tackle the state's deteriorating road network as well as $800 million over the next four years to progress the duplication of the Augusta, Sturt and Dukes highways. My questions to the minister for regional South Australia are:

1. Does the minister consider this investment crucial not only for the safety of South Australians but also for regional productivity and investment?

2. Has the minister advocated for this commitment in the budget process?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:55): I thank the honourable member for her question. Obviously, as a regionally based member myself, I am frequently travelling on regional roads and also meet frequently with the various stakeholders, particularly primary producers and others whose businesses and livelihoods depend on regional roads.

I have been in frequent conversations with the Minister for Regional Roads, Minister Brock in the other place, as well as with stakeholders. Those conversations and discussions of course involve discussions around the future of regional road funding. In terms of the budget, that of course is being handed down tomorrow, and I would encourage those opposite to read the budget papers.