❓ Mr Morton asks for an update on the Forrestfield-Airport Link project's expression of interest phase. Minister Nalder provides an update and criticises the opposition's alternative plan, leading to interruptions and a point of order.
AnsweredQoN 176Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FORRESTFIELD–AIRPORT
LINK — EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
176. MR N.W. MORTON to the
Minister for Transport:
I understand the government began seeking expressions of
interest for the Forrestfield–Airport Link project in late January. Can
the minister please provide an update of this process?
LINK — EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
176. MR N.W. MORTON to the
Minister for Transport:
I understand the government began seeking expressions of
interest for the Forrestfield–Airport Link project in late January. Can
the minister please provide an update of this process?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. Forrestfield–Airport
Link is a $2 billion state government funded project that will transform the
eastern suburbs. For the people of High Wycombe, Forrestfield and Maida Vale it
will mean a 20-minute journey to Perth from the new Forrestfield station.
Ms
L.L. Baker : It's a shame about Bayswater.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : I beg your pardon; did the member say, ''Funny about
that''?
Ms L.L. Baker interjected.
Mr D.C. NALDER : It
will be an 18-minute journey to the city centre. I will come back to that
because I think a question related to how that compares to the Labor plan and I
want to touch on that. Expressions of interest were released in late January
for the main design and construct contract, including the tunnel and civil
infrastructure for the tracks, stations and rail systems, and that includes
signalling and communications. We have received five strong expressions of
interest submissions from both national and international respondents. That is
a positive sign that this has been well researched and well regarded by the
broader community and suppliers. The Public Transport Authority is engaged in
evaluating the submissions and further proponents will be invited to apply for
the request for proposal phase.
Touching on something someone said
earlier, I think this is an appropriate time to explore the comparisons with
this. We are talking about a 20-minute journey. We have heard that ''metrodebt''—no,
it was not ''metrodebt'', it was the ''marginal-seat net'';
no; it was something like that.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Victoria Park!
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Girrawheen! Sorry to disturb you.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : I heard about the ''Norwegian Blue'' comment
last week —
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I believe the
minister has fully answered the question asked of him by the member for
Forrestfield and at this stage he is giving a very lengthy answer and abusing
question time. I draw your attention to relevance.
Mr
N.W. Morton interjected.
The SPEAKER : We are very happy
to hear that, member for Forrestfield. I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, please wind this up.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Certainly, Mr Speaker. Last week we heard about the ''Norwegian
Blue'', which is also another name for an arctic fox. But in the spirit
of the member for Victoria Park, the opposite side is bereft of life when it
comes to this issue. Opposition members talked about their solution to
Forrestfield. I saw the Leader of the Opposition's press release, which
stated —
WA
Labor's airport rail line will allow them to make the journey within 40
minutes �
That was a solution that did not even
make its way to the airport; that was an airport station that was a kilometre
away from the airport! When they talk about funding —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Minister, you have 30 seconds to wind this up.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time. Minister, wind
this up.
Mr D.C. NALDER :
The opposition has been out in the press today to start spruiking its claims
about its rail solutions; I am highlighting that they are flawed. The
opposition's solutions have been flawed all the way through this. It has
no idea about the costings. It was talking about a $3.8 billion project for
everything. The government has gone through the work on this and it has proven
that a direct link will take 20 minutes and cost $2 billion. I do not know how
members opposite will do this for the whole state, and they do not know how.
That is the key. We are delivering for the people of Forrestfield and we are
very proud of that.
Link is a $2 billion state government funded project that will transform the
eastern suburbs. For the people of High Wycombe, Forrestfield and Maida Vale it
will mean a 20-minute journey to Perth from the new Forrestfield station.
Ms
L.L. Baker : It's a shame about Bayswater.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : I beg your pardon; did the member say, ''Funny about
that''?
Ms L.L. Baker interjected.
Mr D.C. NALDER : It
will be an 18-minute journey to the city centre. I will come back to that
because I think a question related to how that compares to the Labor plan and I
want to touch on that. Expressions of interest were released in late January
for the main design and construct contract, including the tunnel and civil
infrastructure for the tracks, stations and rail systems, and that includes
signalling and communications. We have received five strong expressions of
interest submissions from both national and international respondents. That is
a positive sign that this has been well researched and well regarded by the
broader community and suppliers. The Public Transport Authority is engaged in
evaluating the submissions and further proponents will be invited to apply for
the request for proposal phase.
Touching on something someone said
earlier, I think this is an appropriate time to explore the comparisons with
this. We are talking about a 20-minute journey. We have heard that ''metrodebt''—no,
it was not ''metrodebt'', it was the ''marginal-seat net'';
no; it was something like that.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Victoria Park!
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Girrawheen! Sorry to disturb you.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : I heard about the ''Norwegian Blue'' comment
last week —
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I believe the
minister has fully answered the question asked of him by the member for
Forrestfield and at this stage he is giving a very lengthy answer and abusing
question time. I draw your attention to relevance.
Mr
N.W. Morton interjected.
The SPEAKER : We are very happy
to hear that, member for Forrestfield. I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, please wind this up.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Certainly, Mr Speaker. Last week we heard about the ''Norwegian
Blue'', which is also another name for an arctic fox. But in the spirit
of the member for Victoria Park, the opposite side is bereft of life when it
comes to this issue. Opposition members talked about their solution to
Forrestfield. I saw the Leader of the Opposition's press release, which
stated —
WA
Labor's airport rail line will allow them to make the journey within 40
minutes �
That was a solution that did not even
make its way to the airport; that was an airport station that was a kilometre
away from the airport! When they talk about funding —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Minister, you have 30 seconds to wind this up.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time. Minister, wind
this up.
Mr D.C. NALDER :
The opposition has been out in the press today to start spruiking its claims
about its rail solutions; I am highlighting that they are flawed. The
opposition's solutions have been flawed all the way through this. It has
no idea about the costings. It was talking about a $3.8 billion project for
everything. The government has gone through the work on this and it has proven
that a direct link will take 20 minutes and cost $2 billion. I do not know how
members opposite will do this for the whole state, and they do not know how.
That is the key. We are delivering for the people of Forrestfield and we are
very proud of that.
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