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SA commits to roads in Budget

South Australia will continue investment in key road projects, but will scrap a regional fuel subsidy scheme

September 17, 2010

South Australia will continue investment in key road projects, but will scrap a regional fuel subsidy scheme.

Handing down the Budget yesterday, Treasurer Ken Foley pledged $10.7 billion to infrastructure over four years. This includes $842.8 million for the South Road Superway, which he says is South Australia’s largest road project.

Another $445.5 million will be allocated for the duplication of the Southern Expressway from Darlington to Old Noarlunga, with another $12.4 million to expand rural road safety and the Black Spot program.

As the Government embarks on finding savings to fix the $1.4 billion hole created by the global financial crisis, Foley says $49.8 million will be saved over four years from the elimination of the regional petroleum subsidy scheme. The scheme was set up to reduce the differences between urban and regional fuel prices.

The Government also plans to cut 3743 public sector jobs over the next four years and reduce by 20 percent the number of executives across all government departments.

Foley expects to save $65 million over four years by improving efficiency at the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure.

The Budget forecasts a $389 million deficit this financial year and a $55 million surplus in 2011-12.

According to the forward estimates, the Government will run a $216 million surplus in 2012-13 and a $370 million surplus in 2013-14.
“Such a result puts the state’s finances in a very, very strong position going forward,” Foley says.

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