“We must ensure that infrastructure projects address true community need, that they provide a return to the community-on-community investment, that they are integrated and efficient – Infrastructure SA will ensure that the right infrastructure projects, the projects of the highest priority, are identified and delivered,” Marshall said in 2013 as Opposition Leader.
After a weekend commitment from the Commonwealth to stump up the requested $2.2 billion required to complete the north-south corridor, Marshall today told ABC Radio the project’s design plan “has gone through Infrastructure SA, which is the independent arbiter – they look at all of our plans”.
“We needed to be able to demonstrate to the Federal Government that we had a final detailed plan – we’ve been able to do that now,” he said.
“I think that Infrastructure SA has added a lot of value to the way that we consider these large projects.”
Asked by whether he intended to retain Infrastructure SA if elected, Malinasukas said: “We intend to keep it – we have no plans to disband it.”
“We think it’s got a plxjmtzywace, absolutely,” he said.
He added that Labor had “no plans to tweak” the way the advisory body was configured, and asked whether it had been a successful policy, said: “By and large, yes.”
“There are going to be plenty of points of difference at this election, but where the Government’s done something good that we think works, we’ll support it,” he said.
He said the retention of Infrastructure SA “makes sense”.
“We see no reason for change here,” he said.
Infrastructure SA CEO Jeremy Conway said the Opposition Leader’s comments were “pleasing to hear”.
“We think Infrastructure SA can make a really positive contribution to infrastructure planning and delivery in this state, and we’re keen to support the government of the day,” he said.
“We’re about independent advice but we’re happy to support whoever is the government of the day.”
That includes giving frank assessments of big-spending infrastructure commitments, which would include Labor’s weekend pledge to rebuild and run the dilapidated Adelaide Aquatic Centre in the North Adelaide park lands within its first term of government if elected, at a cost of $80 million.
“We review and monitor any project over $50 million under our Act, so we would have a role to review that,” Conway acknowledged.
“We’re not decision-makers – it’s the government who are decision-makers… our role would be to review it and provide advice as to the benefits, business case and whether we think it’s a good risk approach to things.”
However, he stressed, “ultimately it’s the Government’s decision as to whether they want to make the investment”.
Which Malinauskas insists he would do regardless of Infrastructure SA’s advice.
“It’s a firm election commitment that we’ll be delivering in the first term of the Government,” he told
“This is crucial social infrastructure… the centre desperately needs this important upgrade, that’s well documented.”
Labor today released the proposed term of reference for its previously-announced Royal Commission into education services for SA children, predicated on a “recognition that the school day length is out of step with modern working families and that Out of School Hours services are not universally available, accessible or convenient”.
The inquiry would explore “more flexible school day lengths”, with Malinauskas declaring: “For many, the traditional 9am-3pm school day just isn’t compatible with their modern working hours – particularly for dual-income households or single working parents.”
“I am determined to modernise the school day and bring it into the 21st century,” he said.
