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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-02-06 Daily Xml
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INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (14:27): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure. Can the minister inform the house on how the government's infrastructure spend supports the economy and how this compares to other states in Australia?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:27): I thank the member for her question.

Ms Chapman: You need to say why you got the job.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Sorry, Vickie? I thank the honourable member for her question and also congratulate you, sir. This is my first question time on my feet with your new appointment to high office. This government is pro development and pro jobs. We understand the importance of infrastructure projects in not only delivering world-class facilities, but also creating jobs in our economy. That is why this Labor government has managed investments of over $9.3 billion on infrastructure spending over the next four years. These projects include the Adelaide Oval redevelopment, creating over 1,200 jobs—

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Point of order, member for Bragg.

Ms CHAPMAN: Repetition: we've just heard this from the Attorney.

The SPEAKER: Member for Bragg, that is not a point of order, and I warn you for the first time. The Minister for Infrastructure.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you, sir. I'll start again. Projects include the Adelaide Oval redevelopment, creating 1,200 jobs, the $350 million Adelaide Convention upgrade, creating 300 jobs, the SAHMRI, creating 320 jobs, the new RAH, creating 3,000 jobs, the footbridge to Adelaide Oval, creating 170 jobs, the Adelaide Railway Station and yard upgrade, creating 170 jobs, the South Road Superway, creating 2,100 jobs, the duplication of the Southern Expressway, creating 1,040 jobs, completing work which the members opposite left unfinished and which, quite frankly, was humiliating.

There is also $291.2 million in the Seaford Rail extension, creating 610 jobs, $110 million in the Goodwood Junction, creating 250 jobs, and $100 million in the Adelaide to Melbourne road corridor, creating 150 jobs. There are 9,310 total direct jobs created as a result of this infrastructure spend, and this doesn't even take into account the flow-on jobs created in the economy as a result of this. Nearly one-third of our infrastructure spend is in the central business district, and as a result we have leveraged billions of dollars worth of potential private investment in our city. This is also thanks to the government’s new planning laws and the generous construction grants the state government has offered.

Why do we invest in infrastructure, Mr Speaker? We do so to implement policy reforms and foster development because we want to see rampant economic growth in this state, and this government will continue to invest in developing this state. We have a plan to grow our state, something Liberal states on the east coast fail to comprehend. In particular, we do not want to suffer the same problems Melbourne is facing with a new rampant decline in construction jobs.

Yesterday in Victoria we saw the Baillieu Liberal government slammed by groups like the master builders, the Australian Industry Group and the Property Council—hotbeds of socialist activity—because of abandoned investment in new infrastructure. The Age reported that building companies are planning to shed thousands of jobs as the building industry grinds to a halt. Quoting Timothy Piper of the Australian Industry Group in The Age—

The SPEAKER: I trust he’s not making a display.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Absolutely not, sir; I am quoting from The Age. Under the headline 'State at a standstill':

The director of the Victorian branch of the Australian Industry Group, Timothy Piper, said it was once one of the most significant economic issues for Victoria and a lack of ‘cranes on the skyline’ represents poor economic health.

That is the legacy of the Baillieu Liberal government. The vision of this Labor government is 17 cranes on our skyline, more than we have ever seen before in our history. The leader of the opposition talks about an audit commission, which is code for how many cranes he will take down if they come to power.

The SPEAKER: The minister's time has expired. The minister is also debating the question and I would remind the member for Bragg, the deputy leader, that the standing order is against asking whether media reports are true. There is no standing order against quoting from the media.

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