❓ Mr. Punch questions the Minister for Transport on the government's strategy to deliver locally built Australind train sets for Bunbury, contrasting it with the previous government's approach. The Minister responds by highlighting the government's commitment to local railcar manufacturing and criticising the opposition's lack of support.
AnsweredQoN 660Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RAILCAR MANUFACTURING
STRATEGY— AUSTRALIND TRAIN SETS
660. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Minister for Transport:
My sensible question is to the
Minister for Transport.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government's job-creating
railcar manufacturing strategy will deliver two new and locally built Australind train sets for my community in Bunbury?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how the McGowan Labor government's
commitment to that type of local manufacturing compares with that of the
previous Liberal–National government?
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : Mr Speaker —
The SPEAKER : You cannot
answer the question!
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : No, I cannot.
On a point of order, I am curious whether this will be considered a repetitive
question, given that the Premier has already spoken about railcars —
Several members interjected.
Questions without Notice Resumed
STRATEGY— AUSTRALIND TRAIN SETS
660. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Minister for Transport:
My sensible question is to the
Minister for Transport.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government's job-creating
railcar manufacturing strategy will deliver two new and locally built Australind train sets for my community in Bunbury?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how the McGowan Labor government's
commitment to that type of local manufacturing compares with that of the
previous Liberal–National government?
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : Mr Speaker —
The SPEAKER : You cannot
answer the question!
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : No, I cannot.
On a point of order, I am curious whether this will be considered a repetitive
question, given that the Premier has already spoken about railcars —
Several members interjected.
Questions without Notice Resumed
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Bunbury for that very sensible question. I acknowledge the
member for Bunbury, the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for
Collie–Preston for their work advancing the cause of the south west
and, in particular, new Australind train sets. I note the point of order
from the opposition. It appears that the only people in Western Australia who
do not support railcar manufacturing coming back to WA are those in the Liberal
Party. The project has been supported across the community, but the opposition
does not support it. It supports Queensland jobs. Every time we mention it, the
member for Bateman says, ''Queensland, Queensland'', because he
wanted them all built in Queensland.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The reality
is that the other side did not have the vision. They did not have the nous to
get this policy done. What did they say when we announced it? The member for
Nedlands said that our plan was too ambitious. Why does that not surprise me?
The man of high ambition said that our project was too ambitious!
Mr D.A. Templeman : He's
looking up the word ''ambitious'' on his phone.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : ''Ambitious—not
me!'' That is what he is saying.
The Leader of the Opposition said
that this was a fantasy railcar project. The member for Bateman dismissed the
calls for him to guarantee some local content for railcar manufacturing in WA.
The Premier has outlined the delivery of 246 C-series railcars. Of course, we
know that the Australind needs to be replaced.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Mr M.P. Murray : What was
that, member for Vasse? I didn't hear it. Do you support it?
The SPEAKER : I heard you,
Minister for Sport and Recreation, and call you to order for the second time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Does the
member for Vasse support the new Australind train sets?
Ms L. Mettam : I would support
it working.
Several members interjected.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER : I do not know
what you had at the weekend, Minister for Sport and Recreation, but do not have
it again.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It is great
that the member for Vasse supports it, but let us face it —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : One of the
issues with the Australind is that there has been a level of corrosion
in the railcars. The reality is that that did not happen when we won
government. Members opposite neglected it for eight and a half years. The date
for expiry was 2017. What was the Liberal–National government doing
about it? The government has a plan to upgrade stations at Yarloop, Cookernup
and, of course, North Dandalup. We were there the other day, member for Murray–Wellington.
We will introduce new Australind train sets because the previous
government ignored it for eight and a half years. There was over $8 billion of
spending for royalties for regions, and the government could not get a new
train set for the south west. That is our plan: delivering on our commitments
and, of course, bringing railcar manufacturing back to WA.
thank the member for Bunbury for that very sensible question. I acknowledge the
member for Bunbury, the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for
Collie–Preston for their work advancing the cause of the south west
and, in particular, new Australind train sets. I note the point of order
from the opposition. It appears that the only people in Western Australia who
do not support railcar manufacturing coming back to WA are those in the Liberal
Party. The project has been supported across the community, but the opposition
does not support it. It supports Queensland jobs. Every time we mention it, the
member for Bateman says, ''Queensland, Queensland'', because he
wanted them all built in Queensland.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The reality
is that the other side did not have the vision. They did not have the nous to
get this policy done. What did they say when we announced it? The member for
Nedlands said that our plan was too ambitious. Why does that not surprise me?
The man of high ambition said that our project was too ambitious!
Mr D.A. Templeman : He's
looking up the word ''ambitious'' on his phone.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : ''Ambitious—not
me!'' That is what he is saying.
The Leader of the Opposition said
that this was a fantasy railcar project. The member for Bateman dismissed the
calls for him to guarantee some local content for railcar manufacturing in WA.
The Premier has outlined the delivery of 246 C-series railcars. Of course, we
know that the Australind needs to be replaced.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Mr M.P. Murray : What was
that, member for Vasse? I didn't hear it. Do you support it?
The SPEAKER : I heard you,
Minister for Sport and Recreation, and call you to order for the second time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Does the
member for Vasse support the new Australind train sets?
Ms L. Mettam : I would support
it working.
Several members interjected.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER : I do not know
what you had at the weekend, Minister for Sport and Recreation, but do not have
it again.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It is great
that the member for Vasse supports it, but let us face it —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : One of the
issues with the Australind is that there has been a level of corrosion
in the railcars. The reality is that that did not happen when we won
government. Members opposite neglected it for eight and a half years. The date
for expiry was 2017. What was the Liberal–National government doing
about it? The government has a plan to upgrade stations at Yarloop, Cookernup
and, of course, North Dandalup. We were there the other day, member for Murray–Wellington.
We will introduce new Australind train sets because the previous
government ignored it for eight and a half years. There was over $8 billion of
spending for royalties for regions, and the government could not get a new
train set for the south west. That is our plan: delivering on our commitments
and, of course, bringing railcar manufacturing back to WA.
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