Treasurer Rob Lucas promises multi-billion dollar boost for infrastructure projects.
The SA Treasurer is banking on a high vis, tradie-led recovery to get the state moving, pledging billions.
SA News
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A “high vis, tradie-led package” will be a centrepiece of next month’s state budget, Treasurer Rob Lucas says.
In what is being billed as a “tradies package”, Mr Lucas has promised a $2bn boost in funding focused on jobs for the next two years as the state deals with the economic wrecking ball of COVID-19.
The funding will be in addition to the $12.9bn already pledged over the forward estimates for public sector infrastructure.
“There is going to be a jobs focus and a key part of that is going to be a very significant increase in our already record public sector infrastructure program,” Mr Lucas told the Sunday Mail.
“There will be an increase of at least $2bn in public sector infrastructure including schools, hospitals, roads projects and sporting infrastructure.
“A big increase in the infrastructure budget will be focused on what we can complete within two years.
“Part of it will be what we are colloquially calling a tradie package.
“It will be a high vis tradie package of projects that will provide lots of additional work for plumbers, tilers, painters and sparkies right across the state.”
The state government has come under fire from opposition Treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan for failing to get stimulus money, that he said needed to be greater, out the door quick enough.
The Auditor-General released a report earlier this month showing that at the end of the financial year about one third, $289m, had been spent from the allocated $1bn. Mr Lucas told the Sunday Mail his government was still committed to big ticket items such as a new Women’s And Children’s Hospital, the North-South Corridor and an Aboriginal arts and culture centre at Lot Fourteen.
But the renewed focus on smaller projects would help to get the state through COVID over the next two years, in line with the sentiments of federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who has made it clear that stimulus support needs to extend beyond the 12 to 15 months as first expected.
On March 12, Premier Steven Marshall unveiled SA’s first COVID-inspired stimulus package worth $350m stimulus package with a focus on small business, road repairs, hospital upgrades and tourism infrastructure.
A second package worth $650m was unveiled two weeks later with two aims: One part focused on supporting individual businesses and industry sectors, and the other was tailored for community organisations.
Mr Lucas’s comments coincide with a advertising blitz aimed at a new generation of workers that will be unveiled on Sunday.
Innovation and Skills Minister David Pisoni said a skilled workforce was key to South Australia’s economic recovery, and a new advertising campaign titled “Your Passion” would promote the significant opportunities to train and work in skilled careers, achieved through vocational pathways including new, low-fee short courses.
“We continue to raise awareness about VET, promoting it as an equal choice to a university pathway,” he said.