Hon Christopher Pyne MP
Leader of the House and Minister for Defence

The Morrison Liberal Government is investing record amounts to ensure South Australians drive on better and safer roads, and to support job creation and increase productivity in communities around the state.

We’ve committed $3.6 billion from 2013–14 to 2021–22 to fund land transport infrastructure projects in SA, and a further $1.7 billion is committed to projects beyond 2022–23.

Investment like this can only come from sound economic management and, although Anthony Albanese is a good bloke, the Labor Party simply cannot deliver on any promise they make for road funding because they cannot balance the budget.

As part of the 2018–19 Federal Budget, we also committed to and will fund an additional $1.76 billion under the Infrastructure Investment Program for new infrastructure projects across South Australia.

Projects funded include $1.2 billion for future stages of the North-South Corridor; $177 million for the North-South Corridor – Regency Rd to Pym St; and $160 million for the duplication of the Joy Baluch AM Bridge.

These projects are helping make South Australian roads safer and more reliable.

Ahead of the federal election this year, the Morrison Government will consider infrastructure funding for South Australia under the following recently announced programs:

• Roads of Strategic Importance, where we will invest $3.5 billion over the next decade across Australia to ensure key freight roads efficiently connect agricultural and mining regions to ports, airports and transport hubs; and

• Urban Congestion Fund, an investment of $1 billion towards projects that target congestion, including to remediate pinch points, improve traffic safety and increase network efficiency for commuter and freight movements in urban areas.

Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development

If there is one major challenge confronting Australia, it is congestion in our cities.

Too many South Australians are spending too long commuting to and from work when they should be enjoying time with their families and loved ones.

Urban congestion not only erodes our quality of life, it also harms the economy. Without ongoing investment in transformative projects, the annual economic cost of congestion in Adelaide alone – in terms of lost productivity – will more than double to $3.8 billion by 2031.

That’s why the next Federal Labor Government will invest in both the state’s public transport and road infrastructure, and we’ll do so in partnership with the South Australian Government.

We firmly believe building the infrastructure South Australians need should be above politics.

One immediate priority will of course be the continuing upgrade of South Rd.

Anyone who questions Labor’s bona fides when it comes to infrastructure needs to look no further than our record the last time we had the privilege of governing this great nation. All up, we tripled annual investment in the state’s infrastructure to $273 per South Australian.

As part of this unprecedented capital works program we built the Northern Expressway, constructed the South Rd Superway, upgraded South Rd between Torrens Rd and River Torrens, and extended the rail line to Seaford.

I will conclude with a truism: good government is about planning and building for the future.

I am confident that the next Federal Labor Government will do both.