❓ Question regarding the McGowan government's port developments, specifically Lumsden Point, and their impact on trade, jobs, and the WA economy. The Minister's answer highlights investment in the Pilbara and criticises the opposition's claims about infrastructure cuts.
AnsweredQoN 98Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PORT
DEVELOPMENTS
98. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Ports:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's investment
in job creation and the economy, driving infrastructure across Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on how this government is unlocking new trade
opportunities through port developments such as Lumsden Point?
(2) Can the minister outline what these developments
mean for local jobs, businesses and the Western Australian economy?
DEVELOPMENTS
98. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Ports:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's investment
in job creation and the economy, driving infrastructure across Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on how this government is unlocking new trade
opportunities through port developments such as Lumsden Point?
(2) Can the minister outline what these developments
mean for local jobs, businesses and the Western Australian economy?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
member for Pilbara for that question.
(1)–(2)
Earlier this week we were joined by the Prime Minister, the federal Minister
for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government,
Catherine King, and the federal Minister for Resources, Madeleine King, to make
some significant announcements for the Pilbara. Work is already underway and we
have secured hundreds of millions of dollars to help secure the diversification
and expansion of trade at the port in Port Hedland. Over $500 million has been
allocated by the federal government and a further $100 million has been
allocated by the state to build Lumsden Point. That will support thousands of
jobs as we support further exports of key
commodities such as lithium and, of course, the importation of turbines to power the renewable energy sector and help the
hydrogen industry. The estimated value of these projects to the state is
$25 billion. It will also support further direct shipping between Singapore and
the Pilbara, removing the need for ships to bypass the Pilbara to come to
Fremantle to put the equipment onto trucks. We want to support more direct
shipping into the Pilbara. Within five years, we have moved from having none of
this type of trade to having 11 000 20-foot or equivalent units per annum,
significantly reducing shipping costs and supporting economic development in
the regions.
The interesting point to note is
that while we were in Port Hedland and then Fitzroy Crossing—it was a big
day on Tuesday—the ''city-Nats'' were here in the city.
Mr S.A. Millman : The ''MetroNats''!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : That is a good one. I might get some
bumper stickers done, members. The ''MetroNats'' were here in the
city complaining about cuts to infrastructure funding while we were in the
north west announcing over $500 million of new infrastructure funding. Then
they went into Midland—the hypocrisy is incredible. Last week, the
Leader of the Nationals WA; Leader of the Opposition said that the level
crossing removal project on the Armadale line was a vanity project. Then he
stood in front of a level crossing in Midland and said, ''We are going
to build this level crossing removal now!'' He called the removal of
level crossings on the Armadale line a vanity project, and then he went to
Woodbridge and said how incredible it is that we had not removed that level
crossing and we needed to do it now. Do members not find that slightly —
Mr D.T. Punch : Odd.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : — odd and strange, and
inconsistent?
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : He made a claim about cuts. I do not know how
many times we have to say this, but there is a lot of activity going on
out there—billions of dollars' worth. As we know, there are
some supply chain issues and pressures to get projects delivered. As I said,
whether a person is building a pergola, buying a car or getting a new oven, there are delays. Everyone has
experienced them. It has been really tough to deliver these major projects ,
particularly over the past few years. We constantly work to re-cashflow. We do
not cut projects. The member announced that 33 projects were cut. I ask him to
name one that we cut. Can he name which projects have been cut? He has been
going out and saying that 33 projects have been cut, but he is not able to name
one today.
What we have always said is that we continue to work. Last
year, I think the figure we budgeted was around $3.2 billion, and we spent $3.2
billion across the transport portfolio. This year, we are budgeting $4.5 billion
and we are on track to deliver that amount. We are spending more than ever
before; I think it is probably three times the amount spent the last year the
opposition was in government. Then, the opposition goes around making false
claims that we have cut 33 projects, when it cannot even name one. The member
goes around with the other city National, federal member Hon Bridget McKenzie,
making false claims around the city, while we are in regional Western Australia
building new projects for the Pilbara to drive economic growth and create more
opportunities. If we look around the state, we see that the member is the only
person who thinks we are not spending enough money on transport in Western Australia.
The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition with
the last question.
member for Pilbara for that question.
(1)–(2)
Earlier this week we were joined by the Prime Minister, the federal Minister
for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government,
Catherine King, and the federal Minister for Resources, Madeleine King, to make
some significant announcements for the Pilbara. Work is already underway and we
have secured hundreds of millions of dollars to help secure the diversification
and expansion of trade at the port in Port Hedland. Over $500 million has been
allocated by the federal government and a further $100 million has been
allocated by the state to build Lumsden Point. That will support thousands of
jobs as we support further exports of key
commodities such as lithium and, of course, the importation of turbines to power the renewable energy sector and help the
hydrogen industry. The estimated value of these projects to the state is
$25 billion. It will also support further direct shipping between Singapore and
the Pilbara, removing the need for ships to bypass the Pilbara to come to
Fremantle to put the equipment onto trucks. We want to support more direct
shipping into the Pilbara. Within five years, we have moved from having none of
this type of trade to having 11 000 20-foot or equivalent units per annum,
significantly reducing shipping costs and supporting economic development in
the regions.
The interesting point to note is
that while we were in Port Hedland and then Fitzroy Crossing—it was a big
day on Tuesday—the ''city-Nats'' were here in the city.
Mr S.A. Millman : The ''MetroNats''!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : That is a good one. I might get some
bumper stickers done, members. The ''MetroNats'' were here in the
city complaining about cuts to infrastructure funding while we were in the
north west announcing over $500 million of new infrastructure funding. Then
they went into Midland—the hypocrisy is incredible. Last week, the
Leader of the Nationals WA; Leader of the Opposition said that the level
crossing removal project on the Armadale line was a vanity project. Then he
stood in front of a level crossing in Midland and said, ''We are going
to build this level crossing removal now!'' He called the removal of
level crossings on the Armadale line a vanity project, and then he went to
Woodbridge and said how incredible it is that we had not removed that level
crossing and we needed to do it now. Do members not find that slightly —
Mr D.T. Punch : Odd.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : — odd and strange, and
inconsistent?
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : He made a claim about cuts. I do not know how
many times we have to say this, but there is a lot of activity going on
out there—billions of dollars' worth. As we know, there are
some supply chain issues and pressures to get projects delivered. As I said,
whether a person is building a pergola, buying a car or getting a new oven, there are delays. Everyone has
experienced them. It has been really tough to deliver these major projects ,
particularly over the past few years. We constantly work to re-cashflow. We do
not cut projects. The member announced that 33 projects were cut. I ask him to
name one that we cut. Can he name which projects have been cut? He has been
going out and saying that 33 projects have been cut, but he is not able to name
one today.
What we have always said is that we continue to work. Last
year, I think the figure we budgeted was around $3.2 billion, and we spent $3.2
billion across the transport portfolio. This year, we are budgeting $4.5 billion
and we are on track to deliver that amount. We are spending more than ever
before; I think it is probably three times the amount spent the last year the
opposition was in government. Then, the opposition goes around making false
claims that we have cut 33 projects, when it cannot even name one. The member
goes around with the other city National, federal member Hon Bridget McKenzie,
making false claims around the city, while we are in regional Western Australia
building new projects for the Pilbara to drive economic growth and create more
opportunities. If we look around the state, we see that the member is the only
person who thinks we are not spending enough money on transport in Western Australia.
The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition with
the last question.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.