CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Ms COLLINS (Franklin—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) (16:40): I rise today to talk about the important investments in infrastructure that the Albanese Labor government is making in Tasmania and particularly in my electorate—over $2 billion statewide. Today, I want to focus on three particular ones in my electorate. We have allocated more than $60 million to deliver the Algona Road separated interchange and duplication of the Kingston Bypass from Algona Road to the Huon Highway in Kingborough.

This area of Kingston Bypass and the roundabout there is known as 'the fork in the road', and it's certainly one of the more difficult roundabouts in southern Tasmania. Certainly, the Algona Road upgrades, I know, will be welcomed by lots down in that part of my electorate, and it will see the construction of a roundabout at the intersection the Algona Road and Channel Highway and, as I said, the duplication of the Kingston Bypass.

Of course, I was the local member when we delivered the first tranche of the Kingston Bypass, and it was very pleasing to deliver that and to be able to deliver this duplication, particularly as the town of Kingston and the Kingborough region is growing at a fast pace. Certainly, we want to see more homes in that area, and whole new subdivisions continue to be opened up in that area.

I know it will be greatly received by the local community. One of the other upgrades is the South Arm Highway Upgrade that will deliver much needed duplication and the intersection there near the Lauderdale Primary School where the South Arm Highway and Acton Road intersect. Certainly, hearing from the local community for many years now, it's terrific to be able to be part of a government that will deliver—from the federal government's perspective—funding for this notorious intersection, and I certainly look forward to the Tasmanian state government delivering on this important commitment.

We're also, of course, investing and continue to invest in the Mornington roundabout. This has been ongoing for some time. I first committed to it two elections ago, and it's great to see the Tasmanian state government finally getting on with the job there and the council as well.

I know that there's been some discussion and to-and-fro between the current city council and, indeed, the Tasmanian state government. I've said repeatedly to the Tasmanian minister that I will continue to advocate and continue to remind them that they need to get on with building. There is work on the on-off ramps into Rosny, which will take some pressure off the Mornington roundabout and then work will deal with the intersection of the Mornington roundabout.

As I said, this has been going on for many years now, and, frankly, the state government and the council need to move faster. I'm getting incredibly frustrated, as are local residents. This roundabout is absolutely diabolical, and this intersection is known as one of the worst in Tasmania between these two major highways.

Certainly, we want to see these safety upgrades. Sadly, we have had motorists have accidents and die in this area, so it does need to be done, and the Tasmanian state government really do need to get on with it. I look forward to being part of a government that actually delivers on this with the Tasmanian state government.