House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-04-03 Daily Xml

Contents

North-South Corridor

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Is the minister aware the state Treasurer confirmed today that there is not $2.7 billion in the forward estimates of the 2019 commonwealth budget for the north-south corridor?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (14:57): Well, no, there's not. There's a state and federal contribution of $252 million. This is bizarre questioning—

Mr Pederick: You've got to pay Kevin more money.

The SPEAKER: The member for Hammond is called to order.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —that attacks what we thought was a bipartisan approach to infrastructure development in South Australia. For infrastructure to be delivered across the election cycles, you need to have bipartisan commitment. I was really excited, for instance, when Oaklands crossing got announced, that everybody wanted to take credit for getting the job done. The member for Boothby getting $95 million out of the federal government I think hit it, but, still, there was a state contribution towards it. Out of everything in last night's budget, I thought the grade separations were the things that were going to receive bipartisan support. The reason I thought that is that it is what Labor promised at the last election. So in February 2018—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —the Ovingham grade separation was a good idea, the Brighton Road, Hove, crossing grade separation was a good idea, but it is not okay—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —in April 2019.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: It just shows that those opposite have settled into being those opposite a little too well. The glass is half empty. I actually sat down in the last week to watch The Grinch with my children, the new animated version. It just seems that maybe there are some who have watched that movie a few too many times. There is good news in last night's budget: $2.6 billion of new money, new projects, a 12-year pipeline, including what should be otherwise bipartisan commitment towards the grade separations at Ovingham and the Brighton Road, Hove, crossing. If those opposite don't want it delivered, that's fine. The money is in the forward estimates—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —and it will be delivered by this government, and I look forward very much to the opening of these projects and to commuters, who will use those roads every single day, saying thank you.