❓ Mr. Healy asks about the government's commitment to local railcar manufacturing for Metronet. The Premier responds, highlighting the government's commitment to local jobs and the significant increase in local manufacturing compared to the previous government.
AnsweredQoN 657Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METRONET —
RAILCARS
657. Mr
T.J. HEALY to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to creating more local manufacturing jobs
through its commitment to building the railcars needed for Metronet here in Western
Australia. Can the Premier update the house on what the announcement of the
preferred proponent for the new C-series railcars will mean for this government's
commitment to bring local railcar manufacturing back to WA?
RAILCARS
657. Mr
T.J. HEALY to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to creating more local manufacturing jobs
through its commitment to building the railcars needed for Metronet here in Western
Australia. Can the Premier update the house on what the announcement of the
preferred proponent for the new C-series railcars will mean for this government's
commitment to bring local railcar manufacturing back to WA?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Southern
River for the question.
It
is true that this government supports local manufacturing. Prior to the state
election, we said that we would bring railcar manufacturing back to Western
Australia and that is exactly what we are doing. We believe that Western Australians
have the skills and expertise to build railcars. Obviously, our expression of
confidence in local manufacturing is shown by the Matagarup Bridge being built
in Western Australia, as opposed to sitting in some obscure fabrication yard on
some island in Malaysia. That shows that for manufacturing, we put our money
where our mouth is.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Darling Range, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Our railcar
manufacturing strategy is another example of that and will be huge step forward
to deliver local jobs. As part of this contract, 246 new C series railcars will
be delivered. This will be the biggest order of railcars in the state's
history and at least 50 per cent of this work will be done locally, as we
committed to at the election. So members understand what the situation was
before this decision under the last government —
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands, I call you to order. You have said it three times and no-one has
laughed.
Mr M. McGOWAN : — I indicate
that two per cent of the manufacturing was done in Western Australia. It is a 25
times, or 2 500 per cent, increase in the local manufacturing of railcars under
this government. Of course, we will replace the A series as part of this—the
old red and white railcars—and also provide the railcars for the new
Metronet lines. A plant will be built at Bellevue near Midland for the project.
Construction of the plant is expected to get underway next year and will be
finished in 2021. This will create new construction jobs, and work on a new
railcar depot and diesel facility will continue until 2023.
This shows that this government has
confidence in the Western Australian workforce, Western Australian skills and Western
Australian industry to build the railcars here. It follows on from the Liberal
Party closing the Midland workshops 25 or 30 years ago.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Darling Range, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The
reinstatement of manufacturing here is cost effective, will provide a high-quality
product , employ Western Australians and make sure there is a rebirth of Western
Australian manufacturing, which was killed by the Liberal Party when in office.
River for the question.
It
is true that this government supports local manufacturing. Prior to the state
election, we said that we would bring railcar manufacturing back to Western
Australia and that is exactly what we are doing. We believe that Western Australians
have the skills and expertise to build railcars. Obviously, our expression of
confidence in local manufacturing is shown by the Matagarup Bridge being built
in Western Australia, as opposed to sitting in some obscure fabrication yard on
some island in Malaysia. That shows that for manufacturing, we put our money
where our mouth is.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Darling Range, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Our railcar
manufacturing strategy is another example of that and will be huge step forward
to deliver local jobs. As part of this contract, 246 new C series railcars will
be delivered. This will be the biggest order of railcars in the state's
history and at least 50 per cent of this work will be done locally, as we
committed to at the election. So members understand what the situation was
before this decision under the last government —
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands, I call you to order. You have said it three times and no-one has
laughed.
Mr M. McGOWAN : — I indicate
that two per cent of the manufacturing was done in Western Australia. It is a 25
times, or 2 500 per cent, increase in the local manufacturing of railcars under
this government. Of course, we will replace the A series as part of this—the
old red and white railcars—and also provide the railcars for the new
Metronet lines. A plant will be built at Bellevue near Midland for the project.
Construction of the plant is expected to get underway next year and will be
finished in 2021. This will create new construction jobs, and work on a new
railcar depot and diesel facility will continue until 2023.
This shows that this government has
confidence in the Western Australian workforce, Western Australian skills and Western
Australian industry to build the railcars here. It follows on from the Liberal
Party closing the Midland workshops 25 or 30 years ago.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Darling Range, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The
reinstatement of manufacturing here is cost effective, will provide a high-quality
product , employ Western Australians and make sure there is a rebirth of Western
Australian manufacturing, which was killed by the Liberal Party when in office.
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