Former senator Nick Xenophon has criticised key South Australian government infrastructure projects as he continues his push to be elected to state parliament.
He says spending $160 million on the tunnel extension to the O-Bahn guided busway and the cost blow-out of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital show greater accountability and a better watchdog is needed.
Mr Xenophon told an industry breakfast on Tuesday he will introduce an infrastructure body in SA if his party, SA Best, grasps the balance of power at the March state election.
He says his version will differ from a similarly named body proposed by Opposition Leader Steven Marshall, which he's described as "pathetically weak".
"Unless you have an infrastructure SA (body) with real teeth, with real independence and decent funding, then it will be just another mouthpiece for government," Mr Xenophon said.
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"At a cost of $10 million a year for a well-resourced watchdog, this would be a tiny premium to pay for what would in effect be an insurance policy against future infrastructure debacles."
Taking aim at the government's recent projects, Mr Xenophon said it ignored cheaper and more logical alternatives to the busway tunnel, failed to keep costs on the new hospital in check and seemed to be spending too much on a one-kilometre extension to the city tram line.
Mr Marshall said he agreed an independent body was needed because of the Labor government's poorly planned and managed projects.
"It's good to hear Nick (Xenophon) has decided to participate in the public policy debate rather than focus on cheap stunts," Mr Marshall said.
"The Liberal plan will end 16 years of Labor's pet projects around marginal seats and electoral cycles."
