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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-05-17 Daily Xml
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Question Time

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:25): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Leader of the Government, the Minister for Regional Development, a question about regional development.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: In mid-2010, with great fanfare, the federal Treasurer (Hon. Wayne Swan) who is, incidentally, the Hon. Gail Gago's Labor mate in Canberra, announced the establishment of the Regional Infrastructure Fund. The fund, we were promised, would:

...promote development and job creation in mining communities, and in communities which support the mining sector, provide a clear benefit to Australia's economic development and to investment in Australia's resource or export capacity and address potential capacity constraints arising from export production and resource projects.

Now, less than 12 months later, we find that the Prime Minister (Julia Gillard), also a friend and a mate of the leader opposite, has announced cuts of almost 50 per cent to the Regional Infrastructure Fund and further cuts also to the Building Better Regional Cities program. Some $450 million will be cut from the regional programs.

South Australians discovered in last Tuesday's federal budget that none of the projects that are to be funded out of this fund are in South Australia. In fact, more than half of the $916 million fund will be used to upgrade the arterial road network around the Perth Airport. Mr President, I am sure you have been to Perth and you would know that it is not exactly in the regions. In fact, it is only 15 kilometres from the capital city CBD. My questions to the minister are:

1. Have the guidelines for this fund changed?

2. What regional South Australian projects—

The Hon. P. Holloway: Why don't you read Simon Crean's answer? It's been well publicised: even I've read it.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: You're not the minister any more so just sit back and take your medicine.

2. What regional South Australian projects has this minister fought for?

3. Why are there no regional projects in South Australia?

4. Can the minister give this house a guarantee that she will not sanction the money from the Regional Infrastructure Fund being used for CBD projects in Adelaide, such as the redevelopment of Victoria Square, at the expense of regional South Australia?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:27): I thank the honourable member for his important questions. Indeed, I was very pleased to see the very impressive federal budget that has recently been handed down. I commend the Australian government for its commitment to encouraging more people in jobs and better targeted investment in skill development and training.

The federal budget also brings $3 billion in investment over six years in skilling Australia's workforce. There will also be a package of reforms to ensure that more people have the opportunity to engage in the workforce. In addition, I am sure that South Australia will indeed get its share of the $101 million national mentoring program to help 40,000 apprentices finish training and better meet the needs of industry and regions. In terms of infrastructure, South Australia has received a commitment to continue work on major projects for the state, including the South Road Superway, modernising and electrifying the Gawler rail line and extending the rail line from Noarlunga to Seaford.

After Mike Rann put mental health on the national agenda—an agenda that I helped contribute to as well in my former role as minister for mental health—it has been highlighted by South Australia, and the federal government has also delivered a $2.2 billion boost to mental health. We know that mental health has been an area that has obviously been neglected for too long, and I was very pleased to see those initiatives. Obviously, those moneys will also complement the commitments already made here in South Australia to mental health.

In terms of some of the specific regional commitments, country areas have been big winners with the government committing $4.3 billion to regional hospitals, health care, universities and roads. Country health has also been boosted with South Australia receiving $87 million. There is some good news for South Australian roads, with $55 million to upgrade the Sturt Highway.

Other regional budget highlights include an additional $51.1 million over the next three years in supplementary funding for local roads—and, again, that is an area I had personally lobbied for; $80 million for continuing targeted safety upgrades along the Dukes Highway, including additional overtaking lanes and rest stops; $4.7 million to eliminate another 25 dangerous blackspots on South Australian local roads; a regional loading for universities; a continued rollout of the national broadband network; an additional $9.6 million across Australia in 2011-12 to support farmers through re-establishment assistance for primary producers; and $19.1 million over three years for 34 education, skills and job coordinators to be deployed in regional communities across the country.

These are just a few of the initiatives and, as we can see, there is a remarkable commitment to regional Australia and South Australia, particularly in light of the very strict fiscal parameters around the budget, with very difficult decisions having been made. I believe that regional Australia and South Australia have done very well out of this budget and these commitments. It is important that we look at these commitments in terms of the overall package, and we can see here that the federal government is indeed committed to regional Australia and regional South Australia. I commend the Australian government for its commitment.

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