Supply Bill 2025 - Second Reading
Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 April 2025
S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (17:24): I rise today in support of the Supply Bill 2025. This bill brought forward by the Malinauskas Labor government is not simply a financial mechanism to keep the machinery of government running, it is a living expression of our priorities, our values and our promise to the people of South Australia.
It is easy in discussions of budgets and bills to focus on numbers, appropriations and percentages, but what these figures truly represent are people—individuals, families and communities—who rely on us as elected representatives to make decisions that uplift lives, enable opportunity and build a fairer society. This bill continues that mission. It funds the services that matter, supports the economy we are building for the future and takes real steps to address the challenges facing everyday South Australians, from housing and infrastructure to jobs and climate resilience.
I will begin with one of the most fundamental pillars of any society, economic opportunity. The Supply Bill 2025 represents a continuation of the Malinauskas Labor government's proactive approach to economic growth and job creation. We understand that a thriving economy does not happen by chance: it is built through vision, investment and strategic reform.
Take, for instance, the State Development Coordination and Facilitation Bill 2025. This is not just legislative reform, it is a long-overdue shift in how we coordinate development across our state. By streamlining outdated and often duplicative approval processes, we are unlocking opportunities faster. For decades, South Australia has had world-class standards when it comes to planning and development but, too often, the road to realising those projects has been blocked by red tape. We are cutting through that without compromising on quality, safety or environmental stewardship. That is smart reform, the kind that attracts business, encourages investment and creates jobs.
When we talk about industry, we cannot overlook the critical situation at the Whyalla Steelworks. The decision to step in, to appoint administrators and work to secure a future for the site, was not one made lightly, but it was one made with resolve. Steelmaking is not just a part of our industrial history, it is part of our industrial future. Whyalla matters. It matters for the thousands of families whose livelihoods depend on the site. It matters for our construction sector, for our renewable energy projects and for our state's economic independence.
By acting swiftly and decisively, we have demonstrated what responsible government looks like, intervening to stabilise a vital economic asset while seeking a sustainable, long-term solution that secures jobs and encourages reinvestment in regional South Australia.
Of course, economic growth must go hand in hand with tackling the immediate pressures people face in their daily lives, and chief among those is housing. Across Australia, we are facing a housing affordability crisis driven by rapid population growth, high construction costs and insufficient supply. South Australia is not immune to these pressures, but we are taking clear and confident steps to address them.
The Supply Bill 2025 funds vital initiatives to unlock more land, streamline development approvals and invest in the infrastructure that makes housing viable. Through amendments to the environment and food production areas, we are responsibly expanding the land available for housing, making space for over 61,000 new dwellings. This is not about reckless sprawl or unchecked development: it is about balance. We are ensuring that South Australians, especially young people and families, can find an affordable home in a connected, liveable community.
Again, the State Development Coordination and Facilitation Bill 2025 plays a crucial role here. By establishing designated state development areas, we are setting the stage for fast-tracked projects that already meet our environmental and planning standards. This cuts delays, attracts builders and accelerates construction at a time when we need it most. We are also investing in the essential infrastructure—roads, water and sewerage—that unlocks the potential of these developments and connects people to opportunity. This is not just a housing policy, it is an opportunity policy.
We must also speak plainly about the financial pressures facing South Australian households. The rising cost of groceries, energy, rent and fuel is squeezing budgets across the state. These are not abstract statistics; they are real stresses that keep families up at night. That is why I welcome the significant $266.2 million cost-of-living relief package announced in the 2024-25 state budget. This includes a one-off additional Cost of Living Concession payment of over $243.90 to over 210,000 eligible households, payments that have already flowed into homes where they are needed most. For some, that money might mean keeping the heater on longer over winter. For others, it is more groceries in the fridge, or covering the cost of school uniforms. Mr Speaker, I seek leave to continue my remarks.
Leave granted; debate adjourned.
Adjourned debate on second reading.
(Continued from 29 April 2025.)
S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (15:49): I continue my remarks from yesterday. Importantly, we are not just addressing immediate needs, we are also reforming the system to make it fairer by expanding access to concessions for tenants and share houses and ensuring more people can access the support they need. We are modernising our social safety net to reflect how people actually live today. This is about dignity, it is about inclusion and it is about ensuring that no South Australian is left behind.
In November 2024, the South Australian government announced a $9 million redevelopment of the Marion Ambulance Station located on Sturt Road. As the busiest ambulance station in Adelaide's southern suburbs, this project will replace the existing facility with a modern, fit-for-purpose station enhancing emergency response capabilities for the surrounding communities.
It is with great pride that I share the significant advancements and investments made by the South Australian government at the Flinders Medical Centre and its surrounding precinct since July 2024. These initiatives are pivotal in enhancing healthcare services for our community. This includes a major expansion and upgrade of the Flinders Medical Centre.
A cornerstone of our commitment is the unprecedented $498 million redevelopment of the Flinders Medical Centre, jointly funded by the state and commonwealth governments. This project includes the construction of a seven-storey acute services building set to deliver 98 additional clinical spaces. This expansion will encompass two 32-bed adult inpatient units, an 18-bed medical day unit, a 16-bed intensive care unit and a dedicated CT scanner suite. Construction commenced in April 2024, with completion anticipated by December 2028. To facilitate this development, the main entrance of the hospital was closed in October last year, redirecting access through the northern entrance.
In response to growing healthcare demands, we have undertaken several initiatives to increase bed capacity. A new 20-bed inpatient ward was established by repurposing former administrative offices, providing acute care services for older South Australians. An additional 10 acute mental health beds are scheduled to open at the Margaret Tobin Centre in 2025. Overall, these efforts contribute to a total of 160 new beds across Flinders Medical Centre and the Repat Health Precinct.
In partnership with Flinders University, we are investing in the Flinders Healthcare Centre—a state-of-the-art 10-storey facility within the Flinders Health Precinct at Bedford Park. This $300 million project, with $150 million contributed by the federal government, aims to provide 10,000 health appointments annually, accommodate up to 100 patients simultaneously and facilitate the graduation of approximately 1,300 health professionals each year. These strategic investments underscore our unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible healthcare services to the residents of southern Adelaide.
No great society is built without great infrastructure. This Supply Bill continues to fund the vital services and networks that underpin our daily lives—from transport to water, energy to health care. In particular, I want to highlight our investment in water and sewer infrastructure, which will unlock over 40,000 home allotments across the next four years. This is fundamental. For too long, systemic failures in connecting Adelaide's northern developments have stifled housing growth and frustrated residents. We are fixing that. We are laying the foundations—literally—for future homes, future communities and future opportunity.
The Majors Road interchange project is advancing steadily and remains on schedule for completion by the end of this year. Eighteen steel bridge girders have been installed, and the concrete deck poured for the widened section of the Majors Road Bridge has been completed. Night works occurred in March 2025, leading to temporary speed restrictions on the Southern Expressway near Majors Road. These restrictions will lift soon as the road surface develops appropriate traction for safe driving.
The project includes shortening on-off ramps by approximately 100 metres and relocating the Patrick Jonker Veloway to improve sightlines. Additionally, powerlines along Majors Road have been moved underground to allow for increased landscaping and tree planting. The construction phase is supporting approximately 245 full-time equivalent jobs annually, contributing to the local economy.
The Morphett Road tram grade separation project is part of the broader $870 million Tram Grade Separation Projects initiative, jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments. This project aims to replace the existing level crossing at Morphett Road with a tram overpass, to enhance safety and reduce congestion.
Major construction commenced in late 2024, with the level crossing removal expected to be completed by the end of 2025. To facilitate construction, the Glenelg tramline will be partially closed between Moseley Square and South Terrace from 4 August this year to late January next year. Substitute buses will operate during this period to maintain public transport connectivity for our community.
Works on the Morphett Road and Anzac Highway intersection are set to begin soon, aiming to improve traffic flow and safety in the area. The project is expected to significantly reduce delays for the approximately 25,600 motorists who traverse the level crossing daily when boom gates can be down for up to 16 minutes each hour during peak times. This is a project that has proved very popular across Gibson.
The Supply Bill 2025 is not just a ledger of incomes and expenditures, it is a story. It is the story of a government that listens, leads and delivers. It is a reflection of our values: that every person deserves a fair go; that the economy should serve people, not the other way around; and that we are strongest when we act with compassion, courage and clarity. From housing to industry, cost of living to clean energy, we are meeting the moment with bold ideas and practical action. So today I support the Supply Bill 2025 not just as a routine matter of finance but as a meaningful step toward a stronger, fairer and more resilient South Australia. I commend the bill to the house.
