With just over five weeks left until Christmas, design changes to the North-South Corridor are still being kept secret by the Malinauskas Labor Government as the future and livelihoods of families and businesses hang in the balance.

Confusion and chaos have marred the final design of the project while embarrassing Labor Government leaks have revealed drastic changes that a rattled Tom Koutsantonis was unable to explain.

The Opposition is calling on the Malinauskas Labor Government to commit to a date to release the new design so that households and businesses can have some certainty on whether their properties will be acquired leading into Christmas.

Today, Federal Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor joined Leader of the Opposition, David Speirs, to visit Clovelly Park where construction is under way.

“The Albanese Government has turned its back on the North-South Corridor with $1.1 billion of federal funding for the project being pushed out beyond the 2025-26 financial year,” Mr Taylor said.

“Clearly the Albanese Government doesn’t trust Tom Koutsantonis and Peter Malinauskas to deliver this project. “Federal Labor know that without guaranteed Commonwealth funding the project can’t move forward.

“When in government the Coalition invested more than $5 billion in this significant infrastructure project which will help South Australian commuters arrive home to family and friends sooner and safer. We want to see it delivered.” 

Leader of the Opposition David Speirs called on Peter Malinauskas and Tom Koutsantonuis to provide clarity on the plans for the vital North-South Corridor project.

“Why are Peter Malinauskas and Tom Koutsantonis choosing to leave families with a nasty Christmas surprise by delaying his decision to bulldoze more homes and businesses?” Mr Speirs said.

“The Government leaks are out there – we know there will be more property acquisitions, the removal of elevated roadways on Anzac Hwy and at West Hindmarsh, and a two year delayed finish date to 2032.

“It’s outrageous people impacted by the secret decisions must rely on media reports, gossip and innuendo to get information about the final stage of the project.

“That puts huge amounts of stress on people who are being left in the dark.”

Assistant Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tony Pasin said Labor is putting the biggest infrastructure project in South Australian history in the slow lane.

“More than a billion dollars has fallen off the books for the final stage of the North-South Corridor. Anthony Albanese and Peter Malinauskas simply can’t be trusted when it comes to road in infrastructure projects in South Australia,” Mr Pasin said.

Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Vincent Tarzia, said the North-South Corridor project descended into chaos the moment Tom Koutsantonis became Minister.

“Let’s not forget this project stacked up and was ready to go – it had support and the tick of approval from independent bodies because it was viable and done right,” he said.

“The only thing that changed was the Government and Minister Tom Koutsantonis.

“When it comes to major projects, Peter Malinauskas and Tom Koutsantonis cannot be trusted.”