PM’s Northern Connector announcement hits a pot hole
Making major announcements in actual workplaces can have its downsides, Prime Minister Tony Abbott discovered this morning.
He also discovered – not for the first time – that constant leadership speculation can get in the way of “good news” media events.
Announcing funding of the $985 million Northern Connector motorway live to the nation at Adelaide’s Traffic Management Centre, the Prime Minister and Premier Jay Weatherill had to compete with a traffic management officer taking a phone call about a pothole in Quorn.
Despite repeated protests from a government adviser, the worker continued his conversation for several minutes.
The interruption was not the only bump in the road for the PM this morning.
While he wanted to talk only about the road project, he was forced to bat away numerous questions about his leadership, repeatedly emphasising the “strong partnership” between his Government and Weatherill’s and lauding the jobs that would be created in the area most affected by the closure of Holden’s Elizabeth plant.
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“We all know that some iconic manufacturing businesses in South Australia will be closing down in the next few years,” said Abbott.
“This is a really important road project, a really, really important road project.
“South Australia needs a boost.
“We all know that unemployment in South Australia is higher than it should be.
“Obviously it’s sign of the very strong partnership which I have with Premier Weatherill and which Minister Briggs has with Minister Mullighan.
“That’s what a good Commonwealth Government does. A good Commonwealth Government works constructively with strong state governments to ensure that we get things done.”
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Weatherill told reporters: “This road runs though the very suburbs that are going to be the most directly affected by the closure of Holden”.
He said it would “assist in the adjustment for those workers losing their jobs as a consequence of the shake up of the manufacturing industry”.
Opening the media conference to questions, Abbott jousted with The Australian‘s Michael Owen, who earlier clashed with a prime ministerial media adviser over the placement of journalists at the conference:
OWEN: Prime Minister. Earlier this year, you said that the public should hire or fire Prime Ministers. Do you-
PM: We’ll take some questions on that subject-
OWEN: Just first on that question-
PM: Michael, Michael we’re here today-
OWEN: It’s a good question. I haven’t finished it yet-
PM: A one- A one- A one- A one billion dollar- A one billion dollar announcement to benefit the people of South Australia. I’m here with the Premier of South Australia-
OWEN: Okay, so-
PM: But I do think-
OWEN: Okay-
PM: I do think-
OWEN: Okay-
PM: I do-
OWEN: Well I’ll ask a question about that.
PM: Please, let me finish. I do think we’ll take some questions about the Northern Connector, and then, if we must, we’ll have one or two questions on other subjects.
OWEN: Okay, well are you worried about South Australian seats at an election, and that’s why you’re back here again to announce such a big project.
PM: Well, I’m worried about being the best possible prime minister. The best possible prime minister is one that works with the state premiers to deliver more jobs, higher growth and more infrastructure.
Abbott rejected questions about his ministers backgrounding journalists about a possible leadership spill as “Canberra games”.
He said the 15.5 kilometre road, linking the Northern Expressway to the South Road Superway and Port River Expressway was a “vote of confidence in the future” of the state.
“A dollar spent on infrastructure (is) a dollar which has an impact for decades.
“(Whereas) social spending tends to be short term spending.”
Northern Connector: the key details
- The Commonwealth Government has agreed to contribute $788 million – 80 per cent of the funding – to the construction of the six-lane motorway, with the State Government pitching in $197 million.
- The project is expected to create an average of 480 jobs each year during construction, which begins in January next year.
- Once complete, more than 52,000 vehicles are expected to use the motorway on weekdays.
- According to a joint statement from both levels of government, the motorway would significantly reduce heavy vehicle travel times and lower operating costs for the transport industry.
- It is also designed to help primary producers deliver their product more efficiently to market.
- After pushing for the project to be funded with a toll road, the Federal Government caved in. SA will instead aim for a trial of road network user charging for heavy vehicles – but that long-term project won’t impact this project.
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