❓ Question regarding the planning process for the Southern Rail Link project and the reasons for delays, with the Minister responding by criticizing the previous government's handling of the project and defending the current government's decision to re-evaluate the plans.
AnsweredQoN 187Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOUTHERN RAIL LINK, PLANNING
I refer to the minister’s statement of 16 July that completion of the southern rail link will be delayed by one year in order to undertake detailed planning for the new route. Why did the Government commit the State to a $1.2 billion infrastructure project without first undertaking any detailed planning? Ms MacTIERNAN
I refer to the minister’s statement of 16 July that completion of the southern rail link will be delayed by one year in order to undertake detailed planning for the new route. Why did the Government commit the State to a $1.2 billion infrastructure project without first undertaking any detailed planning? Ms MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
The member for Carine can be forgiven for her naivety in this regard because she was not in the Parliament when the previous Government made the strategic decision to pursue the Kenwick route. Having done so, it then undertook extensive public consultation and developed a master plan. One cannot develop a master plan unless one knows what the route will be. Mr Barnett: That is totally wrong; it is back to front. Ms MacTIERNAN: The Leader of the Opposition does not know what he is talking about. I am surprised that not even he is aware of what occurred. Since coming to office, this Government has undertaken a rigorous re-examination of the costing and planning aspects of this project. Mr Barnett: Table the information! Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Ms MacTIERNAN replied: The member for Carine can be forgiven for her naivety in this regard because she was not in the Parliament when the previous Government made the strategic decision to pursue the Kenwick route. Having done so, it then undertook extensive public consultation and developed a master plan. One cannot develop a master plan unless one knows what the route will be. Mr Barnett: That is totally wrong; it is back to front. Ms MacTIERNAN: The Leader of the Opposition does not know what he is talking about. I am surprised that not even he is aware of what occurred. Since coming to office, this Government has undertaken a rigorous re-examination of the costing and planning aspects of this project. Mr Barnett: Table the information! Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
The member for Carine can be forgiven for her naivety in this regard because she was not in the Parliament when the previous Government made the strategic decision to pursue the Kenwick route. Having done so, it then undertook extensive public consultation and developed a master plan. One cannot develop a master plan unless one knows what the route will be. Mr Barnett: That is totally wrong; it is back to front. Ms MacTIERNAN: The Leader of the Opposition does not know what he is talking about. I am surprised that not even he is aware of what occurred. Since coming to office, this Government has undertaken a rigorous re-examination of the costing and planning aspects of this project. Mr Barnett: Table the information! Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Mr Barnett: That is totally wrong; it is back to front. Ms MacTIERNAN: The Leader of the Opposition does not know what he is talking about. I am surprised that not even he is aware of what occurred. Since coming to office, this Government has undertaken a rigorous re-examination of the costing and planning aspects of this project. Mr Barnett: Table the information! Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Ms MacTIERNAN: The Leader of the Opposition does not know what he is talking about. I am surprised that not even he is aware of what occurred. Since coming to office, this Government has undertaken a rigorous re-examination of the costing and planning aspects of this project. Mr Barnett: Table the information! Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Since coming to office, this Government has undertaken a rigorous re-examination of the costing and planning aspects of this project. Mr Barnett: Table the information! Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Mr Barnett: Table the information! Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Ms MacTIERNAN replied: The member for Carine can be forgiven for her naivety in this regard because she was not in the Parliament when the previous Government made the strategic decision to pursue the Kenwick route. Having done so, it then undertook extensive public consultation and developed a master plan. One cannot develop a master plan unless one knows what the route will be. Mr Barnett: That is totally wrong; it is back to front. Ms MacTIERNAN: The Leader of the Opposition does not know what he is talking about. I am surprised that not even he is aware of what occurred. Since coming to office, this Government has undertaken a rigorous re-examination of the costing and planning aspects of this project. Mr Barnett: Table the information! Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
The member for Carine can be forgiven for her naivety in this regard because she was not in the Parliament when the previous Government made the strategic decision to pursue the Kenwick route. Having done so, it then undertook extensive public consultation and developed a master plan. One cannot develop a master plan unless one knows what the route will be. Mr Barnett: That is totally wrong; it is back to front. Ms MacTIERNAN: The Leader of the Opposition does not know what he is talking about. I am surprised that not even he is aware of what occurred. Since coming to office, this Government has undertaken a rigorous re-examination of the costing and planning aspects of this project. Mr Barnett: Table the information! Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Mr Barnett: That is totally wrong; it is back to front. Ms MacTIERNAN: The Leader of the Opposition does not know what he is talking about. I am surprised that not even he is aware of what occurred. Since coming to office, this Government has undertaken a rigorous re-examination of the costing and planning aspects of this project. Mr Barnett: Table the information! Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Ms MacTIERNAN: The Leader of the Opposition does not know what he is talking about. I am surprised that not even he is aware of what occurred. Since coming to office, this Government has undertaken a rigorous re-examination of the costing and planning aspects of this project. Mr Barnett: Table the information! Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Since coming to office, this Government has undertaken a rigorous re-examination of the costing and planning aspects of this project. Mr Barnett: Table the information! Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Mr Barnett: Table the information! Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Ms MacTIERNAN: We will do so in time. Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Mr Barnett: Your Premier did not want to table that information. Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Ms MacTIERNAN: I will table all the costings that have been done on this project. Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
Over the past six months, the Government has examined the project and noted the previous Government’s atrocious decision-making process. That examination has demonstrated the cavalier and irresponsible manner in which it was committing this State to a $1.14 billion project that was sure to be a lemon. This Government has decided to go back to the drawing board and come up with a decent plan. Today’s matter of public interest debate will allow government members to go through this issue chapter and verse. One does not need to be very competent to realise that a rail network that will take people 12 kilometres out of their way and add 40 per cent to the journey time is bound to be a lemon. There is no way that this Government will waste $1.14 billion of taxpayers’ money on a lemon.
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.