❓ Opposition questions the Premier on the progress of Metronet rail projects, alleging no construction or job creation after three years. The Premier defends the government's progress, highlighting planning, funding secured, and upcoming construction starts, contrasting it with the previous Liberal government's record.
AnsweredQoN 1099Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METRONET — RAIL
PROJECTS
1099. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
At
the end of the third year of the do-nothing McGowan Labor government, can the
Premier confirm that his government has not built a single kilometre of
the Metronet Thornlie, Cockburn, Yanchep, Ellenbrook or Byford lines —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : It is groundhog day,
member for Girrawheen. Members, we will hear this question in silence, please.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Can the Premier
confirm that his government has not built a single kilometre of the Metronet Thornlie, Cockburn, Yanchep, Ellenbrook or Byford lines, and has not created a single
job on these projects?
PROJECTS
1099. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
At
the end of the third year of the do-nothing McGowan Labor government, can the
Premier confirm that his government has not built a single kilometre of
the Metronet Thornlie, Cockburn, Yanchep, Ellenbrook or Byford lines —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : It is groundhog day,
member for Girrawheen. Members, we will hear this question in silence, please.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Can the Premier
confirm that his government has not built a single kilometre of the Metronet Thornlie, Cockburn, Yanchep, Ellenbrook or Byford lines, and has not created a single
job on these projects?
AnswerView source ↗
I answered this question very fully
yesterday. I explained to the Leader of the Opposition that when coming to
office, commitments are made and then the planning, funding, engineering,
legislating and the like has to be done in order to build a rail line. I thought
I was very clear with the Leader of the Opposition yesterday about the process
involved in doing this. After two and a half years, on Sunday we started work
on the Yanchep line. Next year, we will have five additional railways under
construction in Western Australia. I thought it was pretty clear that that is
what is taking place. Shortly, we will also start work on the rail
manufacturing facility in Bellevue, near Midland. For the first time since
1993, railcars will be manufactured in Western Australia. We will have about $4
billion worth of additional railways
underway next year. We worked assiduously and cooperatively with the
commonwealth government to ensure we got commonwealth funding for these
railway lines. We put in place measures to guarantee commonwealth funding for
these rail lines to minimise the impact on the taxpayers of the state. We are
ensuring, as much as humanly possible, there is local content in these railway
lines we are building.
In the eight and a half years of the
last government, seven kilometres of rail were built. They were the only seven kilometres
of rail built ever by a Liberal government in Western Australia. Charlie Court
closed Fremantle; Richard Court did not build any. I have a lot of time for
Richard, but rail was not his thing. It was only Labor governments that built
the Joondalup railway, the Mandurah railway and the Thornlie extension. Next
year in Western Australia, we will have a rail-building bonanza never seen
before in this state! We will have railcars manufactured in Western Australia
for the first time in 30 years. That is what Labor governments do. We do it at
the same time as we are the only government in Australia driving down debt.
yesterday. I explained to the Leader of the Opposition that when coming to
office, commitments are made and then the planning, funding, engineering,
legislating and the like has to be done in order to build a rail line. I thought
I was very clear with the Leader of the Opposition yesterday about the process
involved in doing this. After two and a half years, on Sunday we started work
on the Yanchep line. Next year, we will have five additional railways under
construction in Western Australia. I thought it was pretty clear that that is
what is taking place. Shortly, we will also start work on the rail
manufacturing facility in Bellevue, near Midland. For the first time since
1993, railcars will be manufactured in Western Australia. We will have about $4
billion worth of additional railways
underway next year. We worked assiduously and cooperatively with the
commonwealth government to ensure we got commonwealth funding for these
railway lines. We put in place measures to guarantee commonwealth funding for
these rail lines to minimise the impact on the taxpayers of the state. We are
ensuring, as much as humanly possible, there is local content in these railway
lines we are building.
In the eight and a half years of the
last government, seven kilometres of rail were built. They were the only seven kilometres
of rail built ever by a Liberal government in Western Australia. Charlie Court
closed Fremantle; Richard Court did not build any. I have a lot of time for
Richard, but rail was not his thing. It was only Labor governments that built
the Joondalup railway, the Mandurah railway and the Thornlie extension. Next
year in Western Australia, we will have a rail-building bonanza never seen
before in this state! We will have railcars manufactured in Western Australia
for the first time in 30 years. That is what Labor governments do. We do it at
the same time as we are the only government in Australia driving down debt.
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