❓ Mr. Kelly asks about the progress of the Metronet Morley-Ellenbrook line and its affordability. The Minister responds with updates, highlighting the government's commitment and contrasting it with the opposition's perceived stance on public transport subsidies.
AnsweredQoN 661Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METRONET —
MORLEY–ELLENBROOK LINE
661. Mr D.J. KELLY to the Minister for Transport:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's investment to deliver
high-quality, affordable public transport across the suburbs.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the progress of the Metronet Morley–Ellenbrook
line, including how this project will provide more affordable transport options
to people in our north-eastern suburbs?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether she is aware of anyone who does not support
affordable public transport services for Western Australians?
MORLEY–ELLENBROOK LINE
661. Mr D.J. KELLY to the Minister for Transport:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's investment to deliver
high-quality, affordable public transport across the suburbs.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the progress of the Metronet Morley–Ellenbrook
line, including how this project will provide more affordable transport options
to people in our north-eastern suburbs?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether she is aware of anyone who does not support
affordable public transport services for Western Australians?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Bassendean for that question. In the last two weeks, we
made a big announcement on the opening date for the Metronet Morley–Ellenbrook
rail line. The original residents of Ellenbrook have been waiting for this for
a long, long time, as well as the tens of thousands of families that have moved
into Ellenbrook, Brabham, Dayton and the new Caversham area, and the residents
of Bedford, Noranda, Bassendean, Morley and surrounds. They have been waiting
for this rail line. I am so proud that this government has delivered on its key
promise to deliver the Ellenbrook rail line.
Those who attended that announcement
saw that the rail line is looking incredible. The new stations are either
finished or nearly finished. Around 40 per cent of the drivers have been
trained to drive that route. This rail line will give that entire corridor
access to high-quality public transport for the first time.
An open day for the community will be
held on 8 December and all local residents will be invited to enjoy that day. Normal passenger services will start
from 9 December. Last week, when I was at Ballajura Primary School, I met
a little boy in year 7 who has gained a placement at Perth Modern School. He
said, ''I can't wait for Metronet because next year I'll
be able to catch the train from Ballajura to Perth Mod School.''
Ms J.J. Shaw interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Yes, I do,
actually. I was there with Michelle Maynard, of course.
The feedback that I get time and
again across all the suburbs is that people know that Metronet will deliver
quality, accessible and, importantly, affordable public transport.
We
know what the opposition will do. We know that the opposition does not like
Metronet; it does not like the name or anything about Metronet. It does
not like the lines and it definitely does not like the fact that we are
subsidising the cost of public transport for Western Australians. They do not
like the capped public transport fare. They do not like having free public transport on Sundays. They do not like having
free public transport for school kids. We have heard from opposition
spokespeople on these matters that the subsidy for our public transport network
is too high. What does that mean? It means that they will increase public
transport fares. They will scrap the public transport cap. That will cost
people in the member for Dawesville's electorate an extra $4 000 each
year for public transport. The member for Butler is not here, but the residents
of Yanchep will be paying an extra $2 400 each year. The residents of Byford in the member for Darling
Range's electorate will pay an extra $1 200 under a Liberal–National government. That is what will happen.
We
will continue to let the public know just how much this opposition hates public
transport, how it has undermined it every step of the way and how it
believes that the public transport subsidy is too much, and that means it will
increase fares.
thank the member for Bassendean for that question. In the last two weeks, we
made a big announcement on the opening date for the Metronet Morley–Ellenbrook
rail line. The original residents of Ellenbrook have been waiting for this for
a long, long time, as well as the tens of thousands of families that have moved
into Ellenbrook, Brabham, Dayton and the new Caversham area, and the residents
of Bedford, Noranda, Bassendean, Morley and surrounds. They have been waiting
for this rail line. I am so proud that this government has delivered on its key
promise to deliver the Ellenbrook rail line.
Those who attended that announcement
saw that the rail line is looking incredible. The new stations are either
finished or nearly finished. Around 40 per cent of the drivers have been
trained to drive that route. This rail line will give that entire corridor
access to high-quality public transport for the first time.
An open day for the community will be
held on 8 December and all local residents will be invited to enjoy that day. Normal passenger services will start
from 9 December. Last week, when I was at Ballajura Primary School, I met
a little boy in year 7 who has gained a placement at Perth Modern School. He
said, ''I can't wait for Metronet because next year I'll
be able to catch the train from Ballajura to Perth Mod School.''
Ms J.J. Shaw interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Yes, I do,
actually. I was there with Michelle Maynard, of course.
The feedback that I get time and
again across all the suburbs is that people know that Metronet will deliver
quality, accessible and, importantly, affordable public transport.
We
know what the opposition will do. We know that the opposition does not like
Metronet; it does not like the name or anything about Metronet. It does
not like the lines and it definitely does not like the fact that we are
subsidising the cost of public transport for Western Australians. They do not
like the capped public transport fare. They do not like having free public transport on Sundays. They do not like having
free public transport for school kids. We have heard from opposition
spokespeople on these matters that the subsidy for our public transport network
is too high. What does that mean? It means that they will increase public
transport fares. They will scrap the public transport cap. That will cost
people in the member for Dawesville's electorate an extra $4 000 each
year for public transport. The member for Butler is not here, but the residents
of Yanchep will be paying an extra $2 400 each year. The residents of Byford in the member for Darling
Range's electorate will pay an extra $1 200 under a Liberal–National government. That is what will happen.
We
will continue to let the public know just how much this opposition hates public
transport, how it has undermined it every step of the way and how it
believes that the public transport subsidy is too much, and that means it will
increase fares.
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