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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-10-16 Daily Xml
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SOUTH ROAD UPGRADES

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:23): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister update the house about the government's intention to continue with the Torrens to Torrens South Road upgrade and how alternative plans might impact on this?

The SPEAKER: The Speaker is intensely interested in this answer and will frown upon any interruption.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:23): I might cry. The state government is committed—absolutely committed—to delivering the Torrens Road to River Torrens South Road upgrade project and has absolutely no intention to stop or abandon this vital piece of infrastructure. By early next year, the stretch of road will be well underway, community consultation well advanced, homes will have been acquired and houses will have been demolished, and services are beginning to be relocated.

We cannot and will not stop. It is too important to South Australians who face continually increased congestion on South Road. The ultimate benefit will be for users of South Road—the many freight operators, the tradies and motorists who will benefit from an upgrade of the road between the River Torrens and Torrens Road. Independent analysis shows a cost benefit for this project of 2.4:1. This means for every dollar invested, there is a benefit of $2.40 to this state.

I can inform the house that I have written to the federal infrastructure minister, Mr Truss, congratulating him on his election and explaining the merits of the Torrens to Torrens project. Furthermore, dialogue continues between the state and federal governments regarding this project. I have also written to the new federal member for Hindmarsh, Mr Matt Williams, asking him not to advocate for ripping nearly $1 billion worth of investment out of the western suburbs.

It has been done to ensure that the commonwealth government has certainty and a clear explanation as to why the Torrens to Torrens project is the next logical step for South Road. Unfortunately, the opposition has only delivered inconsistency and confusion to the commonwealth. Six months ago, they pledged $250 million to support the $750 million Darlington project—

Mr PISONI: Point of order, sir. This is clearly debate. The minister is not responsible for anything the opposition does, thank God.

The SPEAKER: I will listen carefully to what the minister has to say.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —the creation of a new independent body called Infrastructure SA to end ad hoc political infrastructure announcements by politicians on the side of the road and a desire to—

Mr PISONI: Point of order, sir. This is clearly debate.

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley will be seated, and if he makes another bogus point of order he will be on his way. The Minister for Transport.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —and a desire, I understand, to release and—I can only presume—to follow the advice of independent cost-benefit analysis. Now, of course, the Leader of the Opposition believes in making ad hoc political decisions on the side of the road. He supports Darlington—

Mr PENGILLY: Point of order—standing order 98.

The SPEAKER: No; I will listen to what the minister has to say.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —a blowout of $270 million. Perhaps he should stop taking costings from the Hon. Rob Lucas. He abandons his Infrastructure SA policy before he is even elected, ignores the views of the people who have written to him on his own Facebook page and committed to a project regardless of what independent analysis by Infrastructure Australia says. Of course, he wants to put a handbrake on the economy, sacking workers already involved in the Torrens to Torrens project, delaying the work on South Road by 18 months, depriving the construction sector of a much-needed stimulus.

There is only one South Road project that is ready—a project that the majority of South Australians support and intuitively know should be next. That is the Torrens to Torrens project. This government will work rationally and constructively with the commonwealth to ensure the best outcome for the people of the western suburbs and South Australia.

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