❓ Ms. Shaw asks about the progress of the Metronet Morley-Ellenbrook line and its impact on local jobs/businesses, and how the government's delivery compares to the Liberal/National parties. The Minister responds with updates on construction progress and criticizes the opposition's past performance and current focus.
AnsweredQoN 26Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METRONET —
ELLENBROOK RAIL LINE
26. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Transport:
Madam Speaker —
The SPEAKER : Order! Member,
can you just wait for the microphone? Thank you.
Ms J.J. SHAW : The light needs
to come on and my glasses need not to be so foggy!
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment in transport infrastructure, including
its investment in building a new train line to Ellenbrook.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the work that
is underway to deliver the Metronet Morley–Ellenbrook line and
outline how it is supporting local jobs and businesses?
(2) Can the minister outline to the house how the
government's track record on delivering transport infrastructure compares
with the approach of the Liberal and National Parties?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Just wait. It
will come on.
ELLENBROOK RAIL LINE
26. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Transport:
Madam Speaker —
The SPEAKER : Order! Member,
can you just wait for the microphone? Thank you.
Ms J.J. SHAW : The light needs
to come on and my glasses need not to be so foggy!
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment in transport infrastructure, including
its investment in building a new train line to Ellenbrook.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the work that
is underway to deliver the Metronet Morley–Ellenbrook line and
outline how it is supporting local jobs and businesses?
(2) Can the minister outline to the house how the
government's track record on delivering transport infrastructure compares
with the approach of the Liberal and National Parties?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Just wait. It
will come on.
AnswerView source ↗
We have lost the moment.
Mr R.H. Cook : Killed the
vibe!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Yes; killed
the vibe!
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Swan Hills for the question. Of course, the member for
Swan Hills, together with the Premier, were
out in Ellenbrook recently turning the sod for the Ellenbrook train station.
Members know that the suburb and town centre of Ellenbrook have been waiting
for this train station for many, many years and it was with great pride
that we turned the sod for the new station. The more than 40 000 people who live in the area and the town centre have been
waiting for this train station and the development around that station
and the Ellenbrook town centre to be completed, so it was with great excitement
that we were out there turning that sod, member for Swan Hills.
Much is happening along the Ellenbrook rail line. Significant works are underway at
Bayswater station with the headstock installation underway for the new
platform, plus significant work is happening to say bye-bye to the Bayswater
bridge.
Ms L.L. Baker interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Do not worry,
member. We will be having a goodbye party for the Bayswater bridge!
Under
the Tonkin Gap project, a lot of work has been done along the median strip to
prepare it for the Morley–Ellenbrook line, and the Morley Drive
rail bridges were lifted into place recently. Members who use Broun Avenue will
know that a new bridge has been established, and another new bridge will be
built alongside it. On the stations, we have released the Morley station master
plan. Works have commenced, as I said, at Ellenbrook station. Works will
commence soon at Whiteman Park, through Malaga and, of course, at Noranda, too.
Work is well underway.
This government delivers its election commitments. On the
radio the other morning they were talking about the Guinness Book of Records .
I want to beat the world record for how many times I can show one leaflet in
this Parliament! That leaflet is the one from the former member for Swan Hills
that states the Liberal Party will build the rail line to Ellenbrook, members.
Remember that? It was distributed before 2008. Then, again, in 2013, the
Liberal Party made a commitment that it would build a rail line to Ellenbrook.
But it did nothing, members, as it did nothing with the Metro Area Express
light rail. I heard an interesting question today about the expenditure of taxpayers' money to get rapid antigen tests
into WA. The Liberal Party is complaining about importing RATs into Western
Australia to help save lives and manage a pandemic. Remember members, the
Liberal Party spent $25 million on MAX light
rail and did not deliver one centimetre of it! The Liberals spent $25 million
on a non-existent rail line and they are complaining about spending
money to bring RATs into WA. I think this opposition has lost its focus. It is
out there encouraging the anti-vaxxers who are doing everything to undermine
the government in this state.
Members, I am so proud of the work
that is underway on the Ellenbrook rail line. As I said, it is a community that
has been waiting and it is this government that is delivering.
Mr R.H. Cook interjected.
The SPEAKER : Deputy
Premier, again. Once we have silence, the Leader of the Opposition with the
next question.
Mr R.H. Cook : Killed the
vibe!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Yes; killed
the vibe!
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Swan Hills for the question. Of course, the member for
Swan Hills, together with the Premier, were
out in Ellenbrook recently turning the sod for the Ellenbrook train station.
Members know that the suburb and town centre of Ellenbrook have been waiting
for this train station for many, many years and it was with great pride
that we turned the sod for the new station. The more than 40 000 people who live in the area and the town centre have been
waiting for this train station and the development around that station
and the Ellenbrook town centre to be completed, so it was with great excitement
that we were out there turning that sod, member for Swan Hills.
Much is happening along the Ellenbrook rail line. Significant works are underway at
Bayswater station with the headstock installation underway for the new
platform, plus significant work is happening to say bye-bye to the Bayswater
bridge.
Ms L.L. Baker interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Do not worry,
member. We will be having a goodbye party for the Bayswater bridge!
Under
the Tonkin Gap project, a lot of work has been done along the median strip to
prepare it for the Morley–Ellenbrook line, and the Morley Drive
rail bridges were lifted into place recently. Members who use Broun Avenue will
know that a new bridge has been established, and another new bridge will be
built alongside it. On the stations, we have released the Morley station master
plan. Works have commenced, as I said, at Ellenbrook station. Works will
commence soon at Whiteman Park, through Malaga and, of course, at Noranda, too.
Work is well underway.
This government delivers its election commitments. On the
radio the other morning they were talking about the Guinness Book of Records .
I want to beat the world record for how many times I can show one leaflet in
this Parliament! That leaflet is the one from the former member for Swan Hills
that states the Liberal Party will build the rail line to Ellenbrook, members.
Remember that? It was distributed before 2008. Then, again, in 2013, the
Liberal Party made a commitment that it would build a rail line to Ellenbrook.
But it did nothing, members, as it did nothing with the Metro Area Express
light rail. I heard an interesting question today about the expenditure of taxpayers' money to get rapid antigen tests
into WA. The Liberal Party is complaining about importing RATs into Western
Australia to help save lives and manage a pandemic. Remember members, the
Liberal Party spent $25 million on MAX light
rail and did not deliver one centimetre of it! The Liberals spent $25 million
on a non-existent rail line and they are complaining about spending
money to bring RATs into WA. I think this opposition has lost its focus. It is
out there encouraging the anti-vaxxers who are doing everything to undermine
the government in this state.
Members, I am so proud of the work
that is underway on the Ellenbrook rail line. As I said, it is a community that
has been waiting and it is this government that is delivering.
Mr R.H. Cook interjected.
The SPEAKER : Deputy
Premier, again. Once we have silence, the Leader of the Opposition with the
next question.
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