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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-06-01 Daily Xml
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Infrastructure Projects

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (14:33): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister advise the house on the impact on infrastructure projects in South Australia as a consequence of the recent federal election and any other alternative views?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:34): I can. We have a new Prime Minister, a Prime Minister who is the modern father of infrastructure and spending and building in Australia. So what does that mean for us here in South Australia? What does it mean for projects like the Marion Road upgrade on Anzac Highway? What it means is that the people of Badcoe will not have to wait until 2026-27 for that work to begin. It can begin almost immediately because there is a new federal Labor government.

Most importantly, there is another project that is close and dear to my heart, the member for Gibson's heart and it used to be very close and dear to the Leader of the Opposition's heart but, alas, they have had a falling out. There has been some sort of separation—

Mr Speirs interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —some sort of—what's the term I'm looking for?—capitulation.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Some form of capitulation but, of course, I have said previously in this house that the people of Black had an ability to have their voices heard, in secret, anonymously, in their local polling booths. The people have spoken: the Hallett Cove Central booth, an 8.2 per cent swing to Labor; a 7.4 per cent swing in the O'Halloran Hill booth—

Mr Speirs: That's not in my electorate.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I'm getting to your electorate, don't worry. I've got them all here, don't worry. There's no need to be alarmed, I'm getting to you.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I'm getting to you, don't worry. I haven't forgotten you. Unlike the way you have forgotten the people around Majors Road, I will not forget you. You're on my mind all the time. I'm thinking about you constantly.

The SPEAKER: Minister, resist the urge to respond to interjections.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is called to order. Minister, you have the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The Hallett Cove South booth, 6.9; Hallett Cove East, 6.5; the Hallett Cove booth, 6.5; the Sheidow Park South booth, 3.2; and 3.2 in the Sheidow Park booth. In Boothby, in the Seacliff booth, 7.9; a 5 per cent swing in the Brighton West booth; a 4.9 per cent swing to Labor in the Brighton booth; a 4 per cent swing to Labor in the Brighton South booth; and 1.4 in the Brighton North booth—unequivocal support.

What was the major infrastructure program that the people of Gibson and Black were talking about in the federal election? Majors Road. Again, the capitulation continues. Ignoring the views of your own constituency can be dangerous. I would ask the old member for Gibson—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is called to order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —but he's not here anymore because he did exactly what the member for Black is doing and not listening to his community. Now is the time for the Leader of the Opposition to reconcile with his electorate, reconcile with them and listen to them.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: Minister, there is a point of order. I will hear the point of order from the member for Morialta.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: The question was broad and the minister is managing to stay outside the bounds of what it allowed. He was asked about infrastructure projects as a result of the federal election, alternative policies which are related to the infrastructure projects as a result of the federal election, and this has nothing to do with it. The points of view expressed by the member for Black are irrelevant and not the responsibility of the minister.

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta, I have your point of order. The question was exceedingly broad and provides tremendous scope.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: If Prime Minister Albanese had not been sworn in as Prime Minister and Prime Minister Morrison had been successful in being re-elected, Majors Road would have been left to us alone to deal with, but we have a partner. We are looking for more partners. We are reaching out across the aisle. I want this to be a bipartisan project.

I remember seeing the video of a young, idealistic leader of the opposition in waiting who thought that Vickie had a conflict of interest, wanting to build the Majors off-ramp, even going on radio and arguing for it. How dare people cut out the people of his electorate from getting access to the Southern Expressway? Now is not the time to capitulate. Now is the time to stand up. Join us. Join us in building this new off-ramp. It's the right thing to do. Your constituents want it. The constituents of Black want it to happen. The only person trying to stop it is the Leader of the Opposition.

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