❓ Opposition questions the Transport Minister about the Main Roads Amendment Bill 2015, focusing on cabinet support and potential withdrawal. The Minister defends the bill's intent, highlighting similarities to previous legislation and emphasizing industry consultation and regulatory oversight.
AnsweredQoN 972Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MAIN ROADS
AMENDMENT BILL — INTRODUCTION
972. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the Main Roads Amendment Bill 2015 that the
minister introduced into Parliament last Thursday.
(1) Does the minister still stand by the contents of the bill
he introduced five days ago?
(2) Was the bill supported by the minister's cabinet
colleagues?
(3) If no to (2), why does the minister not withdraw the bill
and start from scratch?
AMENDMENT BILL — INTRODUCTION
972. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the Main Roads Amendment Bill 2015 that the
minister introduced into Parliament last Thursday.
(1) Does the minister still stand by the contents of the bill
he introduced five days ago?
(2) Was the bill supported by the minister's cabinet
colleagues?
(3) If no to (2), why does the minister not withdraw the bill
and start from scratch?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I stand by the intent of this bill. No
question.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Here is what is really interesting: there is only one thing in
this bill that is different from the bill that Alannah MacTiernan brought
before Parliament before a snap election was called, and that is the ability to
apply a freight charge. That is really the only different thing that is in it
from what Alannah brought into Parliament before a snap election was called in
2008.
Several members interjected.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Mr Speaker, I am listening to this wall of noise that you talk
about that comes from the opposite side. There really is a lack of understanding
about what the former Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, when Labor was
in government, brought into Parliament if members opposite are now bringing it
into question. What we said, and what I have said to the press in the last
couple of days, is that we have put this bill before Parliament and it will go
through its processes in which we debate the legislation.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : The intent of what is in the bill will stand. I really do not
know what is so funny about it, because if we need to tighten up some of the
language because of the input from members opposite or from members within
should they make a contribution, which is the whole point of having a debate in
the chamber, then so be it.
Mr
D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Concerns have been raised about giving the director general
extraordinary powers. We are seeking to create an environment in which we
deliver a win–win situation for industry. We have been working on it
and I have been talking about it for over a year.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Right, minister; a quick answer.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : We have been working on providing efficiencies and
productivity gains for the freight industry. We are understanding time, fuel
and maintenance saved, and working out whether we can establish a value
catch-up if we can build infrastructure and deliver those productivity gains
and how we can utilise some of those gains—not all of them, not even
half of them—to help fund that infrastructure. If we can prove that up,
which is what we are working on, we want to continue to do so and to working
with the industry. As members opposite would know, if there is a regulatory
change, the minister has to approve the drafting of the proposed regulation.
The minister approves the draft regulation in the form of a submission to the
Executive Council. The Governor, the Premier and one other member of government
either approves or rejects the regulation. The regulation is published in the Government Gazette and shortly after
publishing it is submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Delegated
Legislation for approval, which comprises members from both houses.
We talk about this extraordinary
power but there is a process for either house of Parliament to knock it out on
a regulation. I am not sure what the beef is here. Yes, we stand by the intent
of the legislation and look forward to the debate next year.
question.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Here is what is really interesting: there is only one thing in
this bill that is different from the bill that Alannah MacTiernan brought
before Parliament before a snap election was called, and that is the ability to
apply a freight charge. That is really the only different thing that is in it
from what Alannah brought into Parliament before a snap election was called in
2008.
Several members interjected.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Mr Speaker, I am listening to this wall of noise that you talk
about that comes from the opposite side. There really is a lack of understanding
about what the former Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, when Labor was
in government, brought into Parliament if members opposite are now bringing it
into question. What we said, and what I have said to the press in the last
couple of days, is that we have put this bill before Parliament and it will go
through its processes in which we debate the legislation.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : The intent of what is in the bill will stand. I really do not
know what is so funny about it, because if we need to tighten up some of the
language because of the input from members opposite or from members within
should they make a contribution, which is the whole point of having a debate in
the chamber, then so be it.
Mr
D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Concerns have been raised about giving the director general
extraordinary powers. We are seeking to create an environment in which we
deliver a win–win situation for industry. We have been working on it
and I have been talking about it for over a year.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Right, minister; a quick answer.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : We have been working on providing efficiencies and
productivity gains for the freight industry. We are understanding time, fuel
and maintenance saved, and working out whether we can establish a value
catch-up if we can build infrastructure and deliver those productivity gains
and how we can utilise some of those gains—not all of them, not even
half of them—to help fund that infrastructure. If we can prove that up,
which is what we are working on, we want to continue to do so and to working
with the industry. As members opposite would know, if there is a regulatory
change, the minister has to approve the drafting of the proposed regulation.
The minister approves the draft regulation in the form of a submission to the
Executive Council. The Governor, the Premier and one other member of government
either approves or rejects the regulation. The regulation is published in the Government Gazette and shortly after
publishing it is submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Delegated
Legislation for approval, which comprises members from both houses.
We talk about this extraordinary
power but there is a process for either house of Parliament to knock it out on
a regulation. I am not sure what the beef is here. Yes, we stand by the intent
of the legislation and look forward to the debate next year.
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