A political war of words has erupted over funding for the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass, with opposing parties accusing the other of holding up the project.

Last week, Barker MP Tony Pasin and SA Liberal colleague, Ben Hood MLC, labelled Labor’s $525 million funding announcement a “cruel hoax”, because the State Government had failed to commit any money to the project.

In a joint media release, Mr Pasin and Mr Hood said the Malinauskas Government had made “no commitment” to the project, and had “ruled out supporting the Albanese Labor Government’s mandatory 50:50 funding arrangement”.

“Let’s be clear, the paltry allocation the Albanese Labor Government has on the table doesn’t mean a thing without a State Labor Government commitment,” Mr Hood said.

“South Australian Labor’s bypass is dead in the water.”

However, the Liberals’ claims were dismissed by State Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis, who told The Murray Pioneer the Liberals had “dramatically underscoped and underfunded plans for a Truro bypass” when in government.

Mr Koutsantonis said his government had done “the necessary proper planning work and sent detailed strategic business cases for a properly configured Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass – including a dual carriageway Truro bypass – to Infrastructure Australia”.

“We have done the heavy lifting to get this project funded by the Commonwealth,” he said.

“(The Liberals) should first confirm if they are committing the state to a half billion dollar funding share or indeed if they are putting any money at all into this important project.

“The State Government has said we will, appropriately, consider funding arrangements for all federal partnerships as part of our normal budget process, and we will continue to work collaboratively with the Commonwealth to ensure the best outcome.

“It’s now time for Mr Pasin to match the Albanese Government’s commitment to build the bypass.”

Mr Hood said while the $525 million federal Labor announcement “sounds impressive”, without the State Government matching the 50 per cent investment expected by the Federal Government, the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass would remain a “fantasy”.

“If they only fund 20 per cent,” Mr Hood said, “what part of the plan is being scrapped?”

Truro bypass ‘first priority’

A Truro bypass will become a reality for Riverland drivers – and be “first priority” – if the Coalition wins the 3 May Federal Election.

The pledge was made this week by Liberal Barker MP Tony Pasin and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who travelled to South Australia to pledge $840m to build the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass, aimed at improving the productivity and safety of South Australia’s road network.

Mr Pasin, the opposition spokesperson for roads and road safety, and Mr Dutton said the plan would deliver the long-awaited Truro township bypass, plus upgrades to other roads regularly traversed by Riverland motorists.

“The Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass is vital for increasing the productivity, efficiency, and safety of South Australia’s freight network,” Mr Pasin said.

Mr Pasin said the Truro bypass was top priority under the plan because it was vital for efficiency and safety and was “a first step towards duplication of the Sturt Highway”.

Mr Pasin said Labor cancelled funding for the Truro bypass previously allocated by the former state and federal Liberal governments.

“The same review that saw the Truro bypass project cancelled resulted in additional Federal Government funding of $2.7 billion for the North-South Corridor to cover cost blow-outs,” he said.

In addition to the Truro bypass, the Liberal plan would also deliver: Realignment of key intersections, new overtaking lanes, rest areas and targeted pavement widening between Monarto and the Sturt Highway. Duplication of Swanport Bridge. Upgrades to the Monarto interchange and Monarto level crossing.

Mr Dutton said a Liberal Government would get the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass project “back on track”.

“This exciting project will cut congestion and improve the safety of Adelaide suburban streets, as well as making a significant improvement to the national freight task at both the Sturt Highway and duplication of the Swanport Bridge on the South Eastern Freeway,” Mr Dutton said.

This article appeared in the Murray Pioneer, 9 April 2025.