❓ Question regarding community consultation on the Ellenbrook rail line and alleged attempts to undermine the project. The Minister's answer is highly partisan, accusing the Liberal Party of spreading misinformation and opposing the project.
AnsweredQoN 762Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELLENBROOK RAIL LINE
762. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
commitment to finally building the job-creating Morley–Ellenbrook rail
line, which has long been opposed by the opposition.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the positive and constructive community
consultation that has been undertaken on this much-needed project?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house if she is aware of any attempts to undermine this
project or to create fear within my community?
762. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
commitment to finally building the job-creating Morley–Ellenbrook rail
line, which has long been opposed by the opposition.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the positive and constructive community
consultation that has been undertaken on this much-needed project?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house if she is aware of any attempts to undermine this
project or to create fear within my community?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for that
question.
(1)–(2) We
saw the scaremongering today, did we not, members? We know the Liberal Party
hates the Ellenbrook rail line, but I had assumed —
Ms J.J. Shaw interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Swan Hills, you have asked the question; listen to the answer.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I had assumed
that the Liberal Party would be over it by now, but it is not. It is still
trying to undermine the rail line, and that is what it did on the weekend; it
opposed the Ellenbrook rail line. We will make sure that every person living in
that corridor knows that the Liberal Party is against the Ellenbrook rail line
and will tear up any projects for the Ellenbrook rail line.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : Who said
that?
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I want
to hear this answer.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I am glad the
member turned up.
In relation to the Ellenbrook rail
line, we are undertaking community consultation. There have been four drop-in
sessions. Hundreds of people in Ellenbrook, Dayton, Bennett Springs, Brabham,
Noranda and Morley are excited about the benefits of the railway line. The
Metronet team has received over 700 survey responses. On this idea that somehow
we are hiding this project, we are not hiding the Ellenbrook rail line; we are
very proud of it.
What do we see about the Liberal
Party? One of the most interesting things that the Liberal Party is trying to
do is spread lies throughout the corridor.
The opposition transport spokesperson said in a tweet that it is the Liberals
WA that has provided the only support
to the Ellenbrook rail line. The term that comes to mind is ''more front
than Myer''. On the weekend, led by some strategic thinkers in
that northern corridor, Liberal members went to a children's playground
and said that we were building a rail line through it. They did not tell the
truth. Let us go through all the Liberal Party's claims. It has said
that we never took this route to the election. That is false; we did. It has
said that we are excising 300 hectares. That is false; we are not. It has said
that the rail line will cut off public access to Whiteman Park. No, it will
not. Let us go through it. The Liberal Party claims that this is essential
parkland used by the community. Its own plan was to turn it into a cemetery.
Its own plan was that Marshall Road land was to be used for other purposes.
There has been mistruth after mistruth and lie after lie. The Liberal Party has
lied about that corridor. We know that it hates the Ellenbrook rail line and it
will do everything to stop it. The Premier has asked whether the member will
support the legislation.
The SPEAKER : No.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Members, we
are hearing today that the Liberal Party will not support the Ellenbrook rail
line legislation! It is outrageous. Liberal members take the media to somewhere
we are not building the rail line and say that we are building the rail line
there. Does the member know where NorthLink was planned to go through?
The SPEAKER : No, through the
Chair, minister.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Does the
member know? I will give the member a hint. The NorthLink project, which was
planned under the previous government and which we are delivering, excised 180 hectares
from Whiteman Park and cut Whiteman Park in half. That is what the previous
government did. It is okay to build roads through areas but not a rail line!
The Liberals went out too early. They have completely lost the plot on this
project. We are going to build this rail line. We know that the Liberal Party
will do everything to stop this project.
question.
(1)–(2) We
saw the scaremongering today, did we not, members? We know the Liberal Party
hates the Ellenbrook rail line, but I had assumed —
Ms J.J. Shaw interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Swan Hills, you have asked the question; listen to the answer.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I had assumed
that the Liberal Party would be over it by now, but it is not. It is still
trying to undermine the rail line, and that is what it did on the weekend; it
opposed the Ellenbrook rail line. We will make sure that every person living in
that corridor knows that the Liberal Party is against the Ellenbrook rail line
and will tear up any projects for the Ellenbrook rail line.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : Who said
that?
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I want
to hear this answer.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I am glad the
member turned up.
In relation to the Ellenbrook rail
line, we are undertaking community consultation. There have been four drop-in
sessions. Hundreds of people in Ellenbrook, Dayton, Bennett Springs, Brabham,
Noranda and Morley are excited about the benefits of the railway line. The
Metronet team has received over 700 survey responses. On this idea that somehow
we are hiding this project, we are not hiding the Ellenbrook rail line; we are
very proud of it.
What do we see about the Liberal
Party? One of the most interesting things that the Liberal Party is trying to
do is spread lies throughout the corridor.
The opposition transport spokesperson said in a tweet that it is the Liberals
WA that has provided the only support
to the Ellenbrook rail line. The term that comes to mind is ''more front
than Myer''. On the weekend, led by some strategic thinkers in
that northern corridor, Liberal members went to a children's playground
and said that we were building a rail line through it. They did not tell the
truth. Let us go through all the Liberal Party's claims. It has said
that we never took this route to the election. That is false; we did. It has
said that we are excising 300 hectares. That is false; we are not. It has said
that the rail line will cut off public access to Whiteman Park. No, it will
not. Let us go through it. The Liberal Party claims that this is essential
parkland used by the community. Its own plan was to turn it into a cemetery.
Its own plan was that Marshall Road land was to be used for other purposes.
There has been mistruth after mistruth and lie after lie. The Liberal Party has
lied about that corridor. We know that it hates the Ellenbrook rail line and it
will do everything to stop it. The Premier has asked whether the member will
support the legislation.
The SPEAKER : No.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Members, we
are hearing today that the Liberal Party will not support the Ellenbrook rail
line legislation! It is outrageous. Liberal members take the media to somewhere
we are not building the rail line and say that we are building the rail line
there. Does the member know where NorthLink was planned to go through?
The SPEAKER : No, through the
Chair, minister.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Does the
member know? I will give the member a hint. The NorthLink project, which was
planned under the previous government and which we are delivering, excised 180 hectares
from Whiteman Park and cut Whiteman Park in half. That is what the previous
government did. It is okay to build roads through areas but not a rail line!
The Liberals went out too early. They have completely lost the plot on this
project. We are going to build this rail line. We know that the Liberal Party
will do everything to stop this project.
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