❓ Mr Hunter questions the government's transport subsidies and rail freight network management, particularly regarding Tier 3 lines and the leased rail network. The government deflects, blaming previous Liberal/National governments for rail network privatisation and closures, while highlighting their intention to renationalise the freight rail network.
AnsweredQoN 499Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What is the current annual subsidy provided by the State Government to support metropolitan public transport services, including rail, bus and ferry operations? (2) How has the annual subsidy for metropolitan public transport changed since 2010? (3) What is the estimated annual taxpayer-funded subsidy required to operate the expanded Metronet network? (4) Why does the Government continue to insist that Tier 3 rail lines in regional Western Australia must be "commercially viable", when metropolitan transport infrastructure - including rail, roads and cycleways - is heavily subsidised by taxpayers? (5) What is the current annual cost to taxpayers of road maintenance, upgrades and congestion mitigation measures in metropolitan Perth resulting from increased truck movements caused by the closure of Tier 3 rail? (6) Has the Government undertaken any modelling on the long-term economic and environmental impacts of increased freight volumes on metropolitan roads due to the failure to utilise or upgrade Tier 3 rail infrastructure? (7) Does the Government acknowledge that grain production in WA has increased from approximately 10 million tonnes in 2014 to over 25 million tonnes in recent years, with the potential to reach 30-40 million tonnes in the near future? (8) Given WA's grain production capacity and the ability to ship up to 50 million tonnes through CBH ports, what is the Government doing to address the bottlenecks in the rail freight supply chain, particularly in the Kwinana Zone? (9) Is the Government confident that the WA Rail Freight Network Lease is being adequately monitored and enforced by the lessor (the State), including compliance with maintenance, investment and access provisions? (10) What mechanisms does the Government have in place to prevent monopolistic behaviour by the lessee of the WA freight rail network, particularly in relation to excessive access fees and limited rail availability? (11) Has the Government undertaken any economic assessment of the total cost to the WA economy of freight inefficiencies resulting from the current operation of the leased rail network? (12) Has the Government given any consideration to returning the WA freight rail network to public ownership: (a) if so, what steps have been taken to explore or progress this option?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2025
Responded by
Minister for Transport
Response time
8 days
1-12. 25 years ago, the Nationals and the Liberals sold out regional Western Australians by selling Western Australia’s freight rail network.
Since this reckless privatisation of a monopoly asset, the network has fallen into disrepair, and our regional roads have had to take up the slack. Even users who want to put their freight on rail have been unable to because of the current structure.
On 23 January this year, the Cook Labor Government announced its intention to negotiate to bring the freight rail network back into Government hands. This was backed by key groups including CBH, the CME and AMEC.
But instead of standing with growers and drivers of our economy, the Member for Central Wheatbelt called our plan ‘disingenuous’ and a ‘knee-jerk reaction’.
This came as no surprise. For all their talk about putting more freight on rail, it was the Nationals and the Liberals who closed the Tier 3 rail network, and put more trucks on regional roads.
This Government won’t be lectured by the Nationals and Liberals about the importance of freight on rail.
Since this reckless privatisation of a monopoly asset, the network has fallen into disrepair, and our regional roads have had to take up the slack. Even users who want to put their freight on rail have been unable to because of the current structure.
On 23 January this year, the Cook Labor Government announced its intention to negotiate to bring the freight rail network back into Government hands. This was backed by key groups including CBH, the CME and AMEC.
But instead of standing with growers and drivers of our economy, the Member for Central Wheatbelt called our plan ‘disingenuous’ and a ‘knee-jerk reaction’.
This came as no surprise. For all their talk about putting more freight on rail, it was the Nationals and the Liberals who closed the Tier 3 rail network, and put more trucks on regional roads.
This Government won’t be lectured by the Nationals and Liberals about the importance of freight on rail.
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