DOUBT FALLS OVER GREATER ADELAIDE FREIGHT BYPASS

DOUBT FALLS OVER GREATER ADELAIDE FREIGHT BYPASS

Member for Barker Tony Pasin MP says the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass is in doubt under Labor until a funding agreement can be reached between the State and Federal Governments.

Last week’s State Budget failed to include 50 per cent of the funding needed to match the Albanese Labor Government’s election commitment of $525 million towards the $1.05 billion infrastructure project.

“Federal Labor’s election commitment to the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass was done in line with Albanese’s national infrastructure funding policy of 50/50 funding agreements with States and Territories. The Premier’s refusal to agree to this funding split has put the entire project in doubt and raised serious questions about a key Federal election commitment,” said Mr Pasin. 

“The Albanese Labor Government need to come clean with the people of South Australia about how and if this project will now proceed. Has a funding agreement been reached? And if so, on what basis?”

“With Malinauskas only offering a paltry $125 million towards what Anthony Albanese promised would be a $1.05 billion project, South Australian road users should be rightly angry that what was promised is unlikely to be delivered,” Mr Pasin said.

“Many voters are now wondering if this project was ever a genuine commitment to or simply a token offer of funding days before calling the 2025 Federal election, particularly when you take into account the fact that it was the Anthony Albanese Labor Government that cancelled the Truro Bypass project in 2023.”

“South Australians deserve to know if and when the Truro Bypass, the Swanport Bridge and the Monarto interchange upgrade will proceed or if this was simply a cruel hoax,” Mr Pasin said.

The Federal Liberal election commitment for the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass was for $840 million (80%) to partner with the State Government to deliver:

• A Truro Township bypass
• Duplication of Swanport Bridge
• Upgrades to the Monarto Interchange and Monarto Level Crossing
• Realignment of key intersections, new overtaking lanes, rest areas and targeted pavement widening between Monarto and the Sturt Highway