❓ Question on Notice regarding the McGowan government's investment in transport projects and its impact on job creation and community response. The Minister's answer highlights project details and criticises the opposition's stance.
AnsweredQoN 906Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
TRANSPORT PROJECTS
906. Dr A.D. BUTI to the Minister for Transport:
I
refer to the McGowan Labor government's effort in driving Western Australia's
economic recovery from COVID-19 through its record investment of $260 million
a month in road and transport projects across the state.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this record investment is creating more local
jobs, supporting more WA business and delivering more local content?
(2) Can the
minister advised the house what has been the community response to this record
investment?
TRANSPORT PROJECTS
906. Dr A.D. BUTI to the Minister for Transport:
I
refer to the McGowan Labor government's effort in driving Western Australia's
economic recovery from COVID-19 through its record investment of $260 million
a month in road and transport projects across the state.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this record investment is creating more local
jobs, supporting more WA business and delivering more local content?
(2) Can the
minister advised the house what has been the community response to this record
investment?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Armadale for
that question.
(1)–(2) As
part of our COVID recovery, but also as part of our plan for WA, we are
spending a record amount on infrastructure in Western Australia. We are
building road and rail infrastructure throughout the state. This government is spending $260 million a month
on transport infrastructure, compared with the previous government,
which spent about $150 million a month. What does that mean, members? It means
jobs everywhere throughout Western Australia and it means certainty for the
companies and workers involved that they have a pipeline of work.
Recently, I was able to release
another concept design for another one of our Metronet projects—the new
Midland train station. We are in the tender process for Midland train station.
This will replace the ageing 52-year-old station with a modern, new facility
between Helena Street and Cale Street, better integrating the station with the
retail district and Midland Health Campus, so there will be better connectivity
between the hospital and the new station. The
concept design is contemporary. Members will have different views about
the design, but I am sure those views will be incorporated in the final design.
There will be three platforms, catering for up to six railcars, a pedestrian
overpass and new, green community spaces. It is yet another project out in the
market that has the community very excited. The feedback from the workers and
the community has been incredible. This government is serious about building
for tomorrow, unlike the opposition.
It is clear that the Liberal Party
does not support Metronet. It is running ads against Metronet. It is the Liberal Party's key plank to oppose
Metronet, so projects like the Midland station would not happen under a Harvey
Liberal government—that is clear. The Byford rail extension would not
happen under a Liberal government—that is clear. On that point, member
for Darling Range, again, does not appear to be here.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : In the past, members have been encouraged not to
reflect on whether a member of Parliament is in the chamber.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Have you all
finished making your rulings? I will make mine. I have made this a ruling
before: if someone is not in the chamber, we
do not let people know that they are not in the chamber. This is something t hat
I have done for the last four years. It is a point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I might go
back to the polling questions that were put to the residents of Darling Range
in the last week. A massive poll was conducted throughout Darling Range as well
as some other seats. What I find really interesting is that the Liberal Party
members come here and demand transparency, but it does not even get told the
poll results of their own seats for their own side.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : I have a further point of order, Mr Speaker, on the
relevancy of the answer. The question the member for Armadale asked the
Minister for Transport was about Metronet projects. The answer that is being
given is not relevant at all.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Points of order are held in silence. In future, I will name anyone who
interjects. Members do not comment on it. You listen to what the person says
and then the Speaker makes his ruling. Minister, you will get back to your
topic.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The question
related to community support for our projects and, of course, there are high
levels of community support, as I suspect the Liberal Party's polling
might show if only its members were allowed to see it. Liberal director Sam
Calabrese provided a high-level briefing to the party room about recent —
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : Mr Speaker, if the minister continues to ignore your ruling,
I ask you to bring her to the question that was asked.
The SPEAKER : Minister, if
you keep referring to that, I will sit you down. Carry on, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Let us go
back to the community's support. When we heard about that polling
question in the Liberal Party's
poll, we heard that it referred to our Metronet projects, so it refers to the
level of community support . All I am saying is: why will the Liberal
Party not tell its own members how popular its leader is? Honestly, for a party
that comes in demanding transparency, we have members on the other side kept in
the dark about how their electorates feel about replacing Mrs Harvey.
Several members interjected.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : I have a point order, Mr Speaker.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! What
did I say about points of order? I will hear the point of order.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Listen to
the faux outrage of the members opposite. Premier —
The SPEAKER : No, I am the
Speaker.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Sorry, Speaker. One day we hope you
might be Premier, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, the minister continues
to ignore your ruling and I ask you to bring her back.
The SPEAKER : No, I still
think this is part of the transparency.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr A.D. BUTI: �A
supplementary question?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : How long have
you been here? No, you cannot have a supplementary.
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I acknowledge that it has not been the practice
to give government members a supplementary but there is nothing in the
standing orders that prevents it. Government members, like any member of this
house, should all be treated equally. When this system was put in place, that
entitlement applied to members on both sides of the chamber. It has just been
an accepted convention that governments have not generally done that.
The SPEAKER : It is not a point
of order. The member cannot have one.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms J.J. Shaw : Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Member for Swan
Hills.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Sorry; I got it
wrong.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : That was my
fault; I apologised. To err is human. To forgive is divine.
that question.
(1)–(2) As
part of our COVID recovery, but also as part of our plan for WA, we are
spending a record amount on infrastructure in Western Australia. We are
building road and rail infrastructure throughout the state. This government is spending $260 million a month
on transport infrastructure, compared with the previous government,
which spent about $150 million a month. What does that mean, members? It means
jobs everywhere throughout Western Australia and it means certainty for the
companies and workers involved that they have a pipeline of work.
Recently, I was able to release
another concept design for another one of our Metronet projects—the new
Midland train station. We are in the tender process for Midland train station.
This will replace the ageing 52-year-old station with a modern, new facility
between Helena Street and Cale Street, better integrating the station with the
retail district and Midland Health Campus, so there will be better connectivity
between the hospital and the new station. The
concept design is contemporary. Members will have different views about
the design, but I am sure those views will be incorporated in the final design.
There will be three platforms, catering for up to six railcars, a pedestrian
overpass and new, green community spaces. It is yet another project out in the
market that has the community very excited. The feedback from the workers and
the community has been incredible. This government is serious about building
for tomorrow, unlike the opposition.
It is clear that the Liberal Party
does not support Metronet. It is running ads against Metronet. It is the Liberal Party's key plank to oppose
Metronet, so projects like the Midland station would not happen under a Harvey
Liberal government—that is clear. The Byford rail extension would not
happen under a Liberal government—that is clear. On that point, member
for Darling Range, again, does not appear to be here.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : In the past, members have been encouraged not to
reflect on whether a member of Parliament is in the chamber.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Have you all
finished making your rulings? I will make mine. I have made this a ruling
before: if someone is not in the chamber, we
do not let people know that they are not in the chamber. This is something t hat
I have done for the last four years. It is a point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I might go
back to the polling questions that were put to the residents of Darling Range
in the last week. A massive poll was conducted throughout Darling Range as well
as some other seats. What I find really interesting is that the Liberal Party
members come here and demand transparency, but it does not even get told the
poll results of their own seats for their own side.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : I have a further point of order, Mr Speaker, on the
relevancy of the answer. The question the member for Armadale asked the
Minister for Transport was about Metronet projects. The answer that is being
given is not relevant at all.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Points of order are held in silence. In future, I will name anyone who
interjects. Members do not comment on it. You listen to what the person says
and then the Speaker makes his ruling. Minister, you will get back to your
topic.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The question
related to community support for our projects and, of course, there are high
levels of community support, as I suspect the Liberal Party's polling
might show if only its members were allowed to see it. Liberal director Sam
Calabrese provided a high-level briefing to the party room about recent —
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : Mr Speaker, if the minister continues to ignore your ruling,
I ask you to bring her to the question that was asked.
The SPEAKER : Minister, if
you keep referring to that, I will sit you down. Carry on, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Let us go
back to the community's support. When we heard about that polling
question in the Liberal Party's
poll, we heard that it referred to our Metronet projects, so it refers to the
level of community support . All I am saying is: why will the Liberal
Party not tell its own members how popular its leader is? Honestly, for a party
that comes in demanding transparency, we have members on the other side kept in
the dark about how their electorates feel about replacing Mrs Harvey.
Several members interjected.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : I have a point order, Mr Speaker.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! What
did I say about points of order? I will hear the point of order.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Listen to
the faux outrage of the members opposite. Premier —
The SPEAKER : No, I am the
Speaker.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Sorry, Speaker. One day we hope you
might be Premier, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, the minister continues
to ignore your ruling and I ask you to bring her back.
The SPEAKER : No, I still
think this is part of the transparency.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr A.D. BUTI: �A
supplementary question?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : How long have
you been here? No, you cannot have a supplementary.
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I acknowledge that it has not been the practice
to give government members a supplementary but there is nothing in the
standing orders that prevents it. Government members, like any member of this
house, should all be treated equally. When this system was put in place, that
entitlement applied to members on both sides of the chamber. It has just been
an accepted convention that governments have not generally done that.
The SPEAKER : It is not a point
of order. The member cannot have one.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms J.J. Shaw : Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Member for Swan
Hills.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Sorry; I got it
wrong.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : That was my
fault; I apologised. To err is human. To forgive is divine.
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