Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Johnston, representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. In Adelaide, the South Road project is part of the north-south corridor, an economically productive infrastructure project of national significance. The Torrens-to-Torrens part of that project has had most of its funding, previously committed funding, withdrawn by this government to the extent of $476 million, with only $20 million now allocated. Can the minister explain why the South Road project in Adelaide will now receive only a 50 per cent contribution in Commonwealth funding compared to the Brisbane Gateway and Perth Gateway projects, for instance, where the Commonwealth is making a significantly higher funding contribution of 70 per cent from the federal government and 30 per cent from those states? How is South Australia not being discriminated against in respect of Commonwealth assistance for essential infrastructure projects compared to other states?