The 2013–14 Budget not only continues the rollout of the Federal Labor Government’s current multi–billion dollar capital works program, it also begins identifying the major projects to be funded as part of the next Nation Building Program, which will commence in July 2014.
We are both building and planning for South Australia’s future.
Accordingly, after consulting with the State Government and Infrastructure Australia, we are now in a position to release a preliminary schedule of new projects to be funded and delivered over the five year life of our next Nation Building Program (2014–15 to 2018–19).
They are:

• South Road—Torrens Road to River Torrens: Upgrade and widen South Road between Torrens Road and the River Torrens. This work will include the sinking of 1.4 kilometres of the road below surface as well as the construction of two new grade separated interchanges and a passenger rail line overpass.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $448.0 million, with $20.0 million brought forward to kick–start the project.
  
  
  
  


• Tonsley Park Public Transport Project: Upgrade the public transport infrastructure in and around Tonsley Park, including duplicating a section of the Tonsley Rail Line as well as upgrading Clovelly Park and Tonsley stations with a new park–and–ride facility and bus interchange.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $31.5 million.
  
  
  
  


• Managed Motorways: Installation of an Advanced Traffic Management System on the South Eastern Freeway between Stirling and Mount Barker. The system will include variable speed limit and message signs.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $8.0 million.
  
  
  
  


• Managed Motorways: Installation of Intelligent Transport Systems on the South Eastern Freeway between Crafers and Stirling, including hard shoulder running, lane use management and better incident management systems.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $4.5 million.
  
  
  
  


• Anangu Pitjanjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands: Upgrade sections of the 210 kilometres of main access road between the Stuart Highway and Pukatja, and improving 21 kilometres of community roads. This package of work will provide all weather access to airstrips in Pukatja, Umuwa, Fregon, Mimili, Indulkana, and to the Umuwa and Fregon homelands.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $85.0 million.
  
  
  
  

Importantly, this does not represent the totality of our next program, with more projects likely to be added in the period ahead. Nonetheless, their addition to this Federal Labor Government’s ongoing capital works program takes our investment in the State’s road, rail and public transport infrastructure to an unprecedented $4.2 billion.
As well as setting the agenda for the future, the 2013–14 Budget also provides the final annual instalment of $196.2 million for our current Nation Building Program (2008–09 to 2013–14), we have almost tripled annual infrastructure spending from $109 to $272 per South Australian.
This year’s funding allocation will enable work to be completed on the following major projects:

• Constructing the new South Road Superway, the largest federally funded project in the State’s history which features a new 2.8 kilometre elevated roadway between Wing Street and Taminga Street on South Road.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $406.0 million.
  
  
  
  


• Construction of new overtaking lanes, rest areas and other safety works on the Dukes Highway.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $80.0 million.
  
  
  
  

Over the coming 12 months work will also continue on a range of projects, including:

• Untangling the passenger and interstate freight lines near Adelaide’s CBD at Goodwood and Torrens.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $232.1 million.
  
  
  
  

The 2013–14 Budget continues funding for a range of initiatives which improve the State’s local roads and make them safer:

• $4.7 million to eliminate another 22 dangerous black spots;


• $87.1 million to assist councils across the State to maintain and upgrade their local roads; and


• $2.9 million to provide 7 new or upgraded rest areas, 9 new or upgraded stock ramps and 2 road upgrades to improve safety and access for heavy vehicle drivers and livestock transporters.

From the outset Federal Labor’s mission has been to reverse the neglect we inherited and invest in the modern, well–planned infrastructure that will make working people’s lives easier, our businesses more competitive and the national economy stronger.
We know there’s more to be done. But this Government is making the right decisions for the nation’s future and across the length and breadth of South Australia, building the infrastructure which will stand the test of time.
This Budget keeps our economy strong and ready for the future by making the smart investments in infrastructure. We are investing for the future, putting jobs and economic growth first and protecting the important services that Australians rely on.
We’re doing this to keep our economy one of the most resilient in the world—we have low unemployment, solid growth, contained inflation and low interest rates.