House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-06-18 Daily Xml

Contents

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

The Hon. G.M. GUNN (Stuart) (15:12): I direct my question to the Minister for Regional Development and I ask the minister: will he agree to increase the Regional Development Infrastructure Fund to $7 million as proposed by the Liberal opposition? In the last financial year, the government spent $2.5 million and there are no qualified provisions in this budget for the Regional Development Infrastructure Fund. I point out to the minister that there are thousands of tourists going to the north of South Australia enjoying the benefits of the great scenery in the electorate of Stuart.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. G.M. GUNN: And I suggest to the honourable member, perhaps she could go too, she might learn something. But I point out that there is an urgent need for road signs, upgrading of airstrips and passing lanes—small projects with great benefits—and it appears that they have been overlooked. Will the minister rectify this problem?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development) (15:13): I thank the honourable member for his questions. As always, they are very well considered questions that come from the minister for Stuart. I can answer it this way. No, I will not be adopting Liberal Party policy as it relates to the regional infrastructure fund. With respect to the very important matters that the member has raised and with respect to some of the issues that are impacting upon not only regional development but his electorate, I am happy to talk to him on any occasion about how I might be of assistance to his constituents.