Louise Miller-Frost (Boothby, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

MILLER-FROST () (): This is a fascinating choice from the opposition for a matter of public importance, but I guess it was set prior to the shenanigans of question time. Those opposite have so much baggage that they need to hide in the issues of transport and infrastructure. They didn't like it when it was raised at question time. Still, if this is what they want to discuss, let's do it, starting with transport and, since it's topical, air transport.

To recap, those opposite gave billions of taxpayer dollars to Qantas for nothing in return and watched the mass outsourcing of jobs that drove down wages for Australians and conditions across the sector. They stood by as Virgin collapsed into administration only to be snatched up by foreign private equity. And, of course, we all remember the purchase of the Leppington Triangle—$30 million for a piece of land valued at $3 million. And they think they're good economic managers! Back to Qatar. Despite the fact that decisions about flight approvals are made all the time, they've decided to make an issue about it. We heard during question time that the previous government and, in fact, the very same member for Riverina who has proposed this MPI faced the same request from Qatar Airlines and didn't make a decision on it for four years—effectively, a non-approval. Let's not forget that in Australia we have one of the most diversified airline sectors in the world. In addition to Qantas and Qatar, we have Vietnam Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Air India, Singapore Airlines, eight international airlines from China, Emirates, Etihad, Malaysia Airlines and probably some more I haven't thought of.

However, if Qatar airlines would like to bring more tourists into Australia then I am all for that, and I would like to suggest to them: 'Put some additional flights on to Adelaide,' which I believe they can already do. We have an international airport. We also have amazing tourist attractions that would love to have some more overseas tourists coming directly into Adelaide as their gateway to Australia: five world-class wine regions within driving distance of Adelaide; Kangaroo Island, a unique environment with spectacular rock formations and a pristine natural environment; the Flinders Ranges, with their world-renowned Ediacaran fossils; and, of course, in my own electorate of Boothby, world-class beaches, including Adelaide's most popular tourist attraction, Glenelg Beach. So why not schedule more flights to Adelaide?

But today's topic is about not only transport but also infrastructure, so let's turn to that. As we are now aware, the previous government left the about-$120-billion infrastructure investment pipeline in a total mess—clogged with projects that were announced without the support of states and territories; poorly scoped; underfunded; designed simply to win votes. One in my electorate, the James Road roundabout in Belair, was, I am told, a last-minute election commitment at the 2019 election. But it was a very poorly-targeted cash splash, because it wasn't requested, and, frankly, the concept was widely hated by the local community. It was a bandaid solution to a complex traffic issue that actually involves four intersections. So, because the media release had happened but no work had actually started, it was able to be cancelled, much to the great acclaim of the local community. And this was only one infrastructure project mismanaged by those opposite.

But I don't want to be all negative, so I'd like to talk about some of the fantastic infrastructure projects that are happening. We have a tramline in Boothby that runs from Adelaide to Glenelg and crosses many major roads. Marion Road cross-road intersections are blocked by boom gates a third of the time every hour. Now, the previous government knew this. How do I know that? Because they promised to fix it at the 2016 election, but nothing happened. Then they promised to fix it at the 2019 election, but nothing happened. But we promised to fix it at the 2022 election, and we meant it, and works are underway. I have to say: it is a very popular project. The local community loves it. The neighbours love it. Commuter traffic loves it. So this is a very different approach from the previous government—not only promising, but actually delivering.

The other major project I'd like to mention is Majors Road on-ramp on the Southern Expressway. This is actually in the electorate of Kingston, but it will be of benefit to not only Kingston residents but also Boothby residents. What it means is that Kingston residents have access to the Southern Expressway and a much faster commute into the city. The benefit to Boothby is that all of that traffic comes off our local roads. So our roads will be for local traffic, and the Southern Expressway will be for those commuting. This is a fantastic effort, and, of course, again, we've actually got the work happening already.

I really don't have much time to talk about the ring route that the member for Sturt mentioned, but I'll just say: it was cancelled by the previous state Liberal government.

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