David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for the question. As he has identified, the supplementary local road funding program lapses on 30 June this year, and I will say a little more about that in a moment. This year, councils in South Australia will receive $17.8 million in supplementary—and I underline the word 'supplementary'—funding for local roads. Supplementary funding to South Australian councils is made, as I am sure the senator knows, in addition to the local roads component of the financial assistance grants program. Other councils around Australia have not received any supplementary funding under the financial assistance grants program. Of the $2.3 billion allocation under the financial assistance grants program in 2014-15, local government in South Australia will receive an estimated $152.5 million. South Australian councils, as well as others around Australia, will receive more Black Spot and Roads to Recovery funding following the budget announcement. So supplementary funding is made to South Australia in addition.

The Australian government is very committed to supporting local government to provide the infrastructure and services that drive productivity. The government is continuing the financial assistance grants program which will provide an estimated—as I have said—$152 million specifically to South Australia in 2014-15. This is 'in addition', because the previous government made no provision for the extension of the supplementary roads funding beyond 30 June this year. This is important with respect to legislation that is soon to come before this chamber.

I understand that the equity of the funding formula for local roads has been an issue for some years, particularly from a South Australian perspective. The South Australian local government association and the Australian national body— (Time expired)