❓ Mrs O'Malley asks about the government's success in increasing public transport usage and how Metronet will further boost patronage. The Minister responds by highlighting increased boardings and criticising the Liberal Party's past and present stance on rail infrastructure.
AnsweredQoN 717Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METRONET — PUBLIC TRANSPORT —
PATRONAGE
717. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
unprecedented investment in public transport, and its commitment to reducing
congestion by getting more commuters onto buses and trains.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house what the latest catchment figures show about this
government's effort in growing the use of public transport?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the delivery of this government's
job-creating Metronet rail expansion will see even more people use public
transport?
Several
members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
PATRONAGE
717. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
unprecedented investment in public transport, and its commitment to reducing
congestion by getting more commuters onto buses and trains.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house what the latest catchment figures show about this
government's effort in growing the use of public transport?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the delivery of this government's
job-creating Metronet rail expansion will see even more people use public
transport?
Several
members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Bicton for that
question. Of course, yesterday morning, the member for Bicton and I took the
train from Fremantle to Perth to mark the fortieth anniversary of the closure
of the Fremantle line by the Liberal Party.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The Liberal Party has never seen a rail
line it does not want to close or does not want to sell. That is in its DNA—closing
and selling rail lines across WA. We know the Liberal Party does not support
Metronet and we know it does not support our ambitious and bold vision for the
future of Western Australia. Yesterday, of course, as part of acknowledging
that terrible day 40 years ago when the Liberal Party closed the Fremantle
line, the new patronage figures also came out. They show 1.6 million extra
boardings in 2018–19. That is the culmination
of a number of factors. Of course, further investment in our rail network will
see a further increase in boardings across our rail network. We have
seen expansions like the northern suburbs rail line and the southern suburbs
rail line completely change the way we commute across our suburbs, as we build
the Yanchep extension, the Thornlie–Cockburn line, the Ellenbrook line
and the Byford extension, together with the level crossing removal program. Can
I say that I endorse the comments of Dale Alcock —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : — about removing those level
crossings and investing in our heritage lines. That is our Metronet vision—creating
jobs —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman! It is not a chat
session.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : — and reducing congestion. This is a party
that in eight and a half years could not build Roe 8 and now wants us to
build four rail lines in two years.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman, I call you to order
for the third time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : This is a party that in eight and a half
years could not deliver Roe 8 and now wants us to build four whole rail
networks in two years. The Liberal Party does not support Metronet.
Ms L. Mettam : interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse! I call you to order for
the third time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The Liberal Party does not support
Metronet. Last week, it came out in some debate—many members might have
missed it—that the member for Riverton rang the Conservation Council
asking why it did not put in opposition to the Thornlie–Cockburn rail
line. I mean —
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The Liberal Party —
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected
The SPEAKER : Treasurer!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The Liberal Party is out there, trying
to wreck Metronet. That is what the member for Riverton and the Liberal Party
are trying to do.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : That was incredible information last week—that
the member for Riverton was out there, ringing people, trying to get
them to oppose Metronet.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for Water! I call you to order
for the first time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : That is what the member for Riverton
is spending his time doing. I say get on board; support Metronet. It is our
vision for the future.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
Withdrawal of Remark
The SPEAKER : Member for
Riverton, you will withdraw.
Ms R. Saffioti : What did he say?
Dr M.D. Nahan : You have just made a false statement.
The SPEAKER : I call you to order for the first time.
Now withdraw.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I withdraw.
The SPEAKER : Thank you.
Questions
without Notice Resumed
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Riverton, I call you to order
for the second time, and next time I will name you if you keep querying my
decision.
question. Of course, yesterday morning, the member for Bicton and I took the
train from Fremantle to Perth to mark the fortieth anniversary of the closure
of the Fremantle line by the Liberal Party.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The Liberal Party has never seen a rail
line it does not want to close or does not want to sell. That is in its DNA—closing
and selling rail lines across WA. We know the Liberal Party does not support
Metronet and we know it does not support our ambitious and bold vision for the
future of Western Australia. Yesterday, of course, as part of acknowledging
that terrible day 40 years ago when the Liberal Party closed the Fremantle
line, the new patronage figures also came out. They show 1.6 million extra
boardings in 2018–19. That is the culmination
of a number of factors. Of course, further investment in our rail network will
see a further increase in boardings across our rail network. We have
seen expansions like the northern suburbs rail line and the southern suburbs
rail line completely change the way we commute across our suburbs, as we build
the Yanchep extension, the Thornlie–Cockburn line, the Ellenbrook line
and the Byford extension, together with the level crossing removal program. Can
I say that I endorse the comments of Dale Alcock —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : — about removing those level
crossings and investing in our heritage lines. That is our Metronet vision—creating
jobs —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman! It is not a chat
session.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : — and reducing congestion. This is a party
that in eight and a half years could not build Roe 8 and now wants us to
build four rail lines in two years.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman, I call you to order
for the third time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : This is a party that in eight and a half
years could not deliver Roe 8 and now wants us to build four whole rail
networks in two years. The Liberal Party does not support Metronet.
Ms L. Mettam : interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse! I call you to order for
the third time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The Liberal Party does not support
Metronet. Last week, it came out in some debate—many members might have
missed it—that the member for Riverton rang the Conservation Council
asking why it did not put in opposition to the Thornlie–Cockburn rail
line. I mean —
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The Liberal Party —
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected
The SPEAKER : Treasurer!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The Liberal Party is out there, trying
to wreck Metronet. That is what the member for Riverton and the Liberal Party
are trying to do.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : That was incredible information last week—that
the member for Riverton was out there, ringing people, trying to get
them to oppose Metronet.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for Water! I call you to order
for the first time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : That is what the member for Riverton
is spending his time doing. I say get on board; support Metronet. It is our
vision for the future.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
Withdrawal of Remark
The SPEAKER : Member for
Riverton, you will withdraw.
Ms R. Saffioti : What did he say?
Dr M.D. Nahan : You have just made a false statement.
The SPEAKER : I call you to order for the first time.
Now withdraw.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I withdraw.
The SPEAKER : Thank you.
Questions
without Notice Resumed
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Riverton, I call you to order
for the second time, and next time I will name you if you keep querying my
decision.
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