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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-11-13 Daily Xml
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Barrier Highway

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:10): Thank you, Mr President, for your protection. My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister tell the council how the Albanese and Malinauskas governments are improving safety and freight movements on the Barrier Highway?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Autism) (15:11): I thank the member for this question. The Malinauskas government believes that South Australian regions are critical to the success of our state, and that is why we have invested so much in them since coming to government. I am advised that major transport projects announced in regional areas since the election total some $2.7 billion. When the Torrens to Darlington project, which is a substantial project, is removed from the budget, this represents 70 per cent of the total statewide transport investment commitment being made in regional areas.

The Barrier Highway is South Australia's primary direct road connection to New South Wales and forms part of the primary route between Adelaide and the Mid North. It is a critical interstate freight route, with the trucks representing up to 40 per cent of the vehicles. It is critical for locals, for the livestock industry and for mining. Labor does not take the regions for granted; rather, the Albanese and Malinauskas governments are investing in them together.

Recently, I announced a comprehensive package of works on the Barrier Highway, designed to hit the three key areas of safety, efficiency and resilience. At Whyte Yarcowie, the junction at Barrier Highway and Whyte Road will receive new lighting and safety barriers and the road will be reconstructed, widened and spray sealed to allow larger heavy vehicles to turn onto Whyte Road and the highway.

In Yunta, the main street near the Tea Tree Road and Barrier Highway junction will also be reconstructed, widened and spray sealed to improve heavy vehicle travel to and from pastoral stations, mining production and exploration areas. We are building new rest areas and upgrading an existing rest area in Bindarrah, providing drivers the opportunity to pull over and take a break, with new shelter and picnic tables. As we know, rest areas are crucial when it comes to preventing fatigue-related fatalities and injuries.

These upgrades are funded by the Australian and South Australian governments through the $62.5 million Barrier Highway corridor upgrades and the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program, with the Albanese government committing $50 million and the Malinauskas government committing $12.5 million. Early works, including service relocations, are completed and major construction is expected to be completed by mid-2026. These are good investments to be making in our regional communities and ones that we are proud to be doing.

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