ABC Radio Adelaide Mornings with Rory McClaren

RORY MCCLAREN: We've also had another call. The Federal Minister, Catherine King, for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, has rung in. Good morning to you, Minister.

CATHERINE KING: Good morning. How are you?

RORY MCCLAREN: Going very well, Catherine King. We've been talking a lot about infrastructure across 891 this morning. We know that there is a lot of money that has already been allocated to South Australia in regards to infrastructure funding, particularly on things like the North-South Corridor, the Torrens to Darlington upgrade. How do you respond to criticism that of that $17 billion worth of money that was announced last night, only $125 million is going on one project in Adelaide's north? 

CATHERINE KING: Well, someone seems to have missed in the Budget, we've actually put $690 million into South Australia, so I'm not sure how that occurred. Of course, one of those projects is $125 million to remove the Curtis Road level crossing, and that is a huge project for the North, a really important project. So I wouldn't underestimate how significant that is.

But the other project, which is a really big project, is over $525 million has been committed to the High Productivity Vehicle Network. This is actually about getting upgrades between the South Eastern Freeway and the Sturt Highway, which include things like the duplication of the Swanport Bridge and Murray Bridge Township Bypass in Monarto. That is really important to enable trucks to actually not be in Adelaide, keeping trucks off Cross Road, which I understand the member for Boothby, Louise Miller-Frost, has been calling for [Indistinct]…

RORY MCCLAREN: [Interrupts] And Catherine King, of that money, how much of that money is new money? So we're really clear. 

CATHERINE KING: $525 million is new money in the Budget for the High Productivity Vehicle Network. That is new money in the Budget decision that we've made. There's also $40 million for Main South Road upgrades. That is, again, new money in the Budget. So over $600 million of new money in the Budget for South Australia last night. Again, as I said, Curtis Level Road Crossing removal is huge.

But really, this Heavy Vehicle Productivity Network, we've been talking about it for ages. It is really great news for the people of Adelaide’s southern suburbs. You can be rest assured that there won't be additional trucks clogging Cross Road. This is an investment we've been working on closely with the South Australian Government. They submitted the business case to us back in October for this network to Infrastructure Australia, and this is now us stepping up now that we've properly done the work, properly understood what can be done, and work with the South Australian Government to deliver this project.

RORY MCCLAREN: Catherine King, thank you for your contribution.