❓ The Leader of the Opposition questions the Premier on the broken promise of building the Roe 8 extension. The Premier defends the government's commitment, citing environmental approvals and other infrastructure priorities.
AnsweredQoN 603Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROE
HIGHWAY STAGE 8 EXTENSION — ELECTION COMMITMENTS
603. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
Welcome, Premier. I refer to the numerous commitments made by
the member for Riverton and other Liberal members on building the Roe 8
extension, exemplified by this election advertisement that states that the
Liberals will build the Roe 8 extension to alleviate traffic congestion.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Leader of the Opposition, carry on.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I
think I had better start again. I refer to the numerous commitments —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I
refer to the numerous commitments made by the member for Riverton and other
Liberal members on building the Roe 8 extension, exemplified by this election
ad that states that the Liberals will build the Roe 8 extension to alleviate
traffic congestion.
(1) Why has
the Premier broken the promise made by his minister on numerous occasions that
the Roe 8 extension would be imminently going ahead?
(2) Why is
there a track record of his members promising things that are not now being
delivered?
(3) Did the
Premier authorise this commitment, or was this a frolic of the member for
Riverton and other Liberal members on their own?
HIGHWAY STAGE 8 EXTENSION — ELECTION COMMITMENTS
603. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
Welcome, Premier. I refer to the numerous commitments made by
the member for Riverton and other Liberal members on building the Roe 8
extension, exemplified by this election advertisement that states that the
Liberals will build the Roe 8 extension to alleviate traffic congestion.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Leader of the Opposition, carry on.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I
think I had better start again. I refer to the numerous commitments —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I
refer to the numerous commitments made by the member for Riverton and other
Liberal members on building the Roe 8 extension, exemplified by this election
ad that states that the Liberals will build the Roe 8 extension to alleviate
traffic congestion.
(1) Why has
the Premier broken the promise made by his minister on numerous occasions that
the Roe 8 extension would be imminently going ahead?
(2) Why is
there a track record of his members promising things that are not now being
delivered?
(3) Did the
Premier authorise this commitment, or was this a frolic of the member for
Riverton and other Liberal members on their own?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
Roe 8 is a vital piece of the urban road network. It dates back to the
Stephenson plan of the 1950s. If we want to separate heavy vehicles from
suburban passenger vehicles, Roe 8 is important. It is a very expensive
project. I think it is in the order of $600 million or thereabouts. The state
government is going through the process now of environmental approval.
Mr M. McGowan : It's
done.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : No; the Leader of the Opposition is wrong again. The
conditions have been set; they are now out for public consultation. That is
where the process is at. I do not know why the Leader of the Opposition
giggles, because I think it is important that Roe 8 be built.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This government is committed to building Roe 8.
Mr D.J. Kelly :
When?
Mr B.S. Wyatt : In
the fullness of time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
We have a lot of capital works projects on. We have a lot of road projects. We
came to government after eight years of neglect by Labor of the road network in
the Perth metropolitan area. The Swan Valley bypass is being built, the
freeways have been extended, extra lanes have been added, interchanges have
been done, and work is being done at the airport. As part of that program,
there will be Roe 8. I am not guaranteeing that Roe 8 will be built during this
term. I am not suggesting that at all; indeed, that is not suggested in there.
We are committed to building Roe 8.
Mr M. McGowan :
When?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
understand that the opposition is opposed to Roe 8, so it is opposed to taking
heavy vehicles away from passenger vehicles.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the first time. It is not the aim
of question time to have people drowned out.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Roe 8 goes through a wetland area. I am familiar with it and most other members
are too. It is not beyond the wit of mankind to build a road system across and
over a wetland area. It is done all around the world in every city we could
name. The opposition sits with a local group that does not want to see that
road built and does not want to see any interference. During construction there
will be some interference. When that road is built, I imagine that a whole lot
of environmental approvals and enhancements to the area will go with it. But a
road that goes over a wetland can be built, and this government will do it. We
are not guaranteeing that it will be done in this term, but I hope that towards
the end of this term we will be progressing on that project. For the moment we
are doing what is necessary, and that is meeting the necessary environmental
conditions and approvals.
Roe 8 is a vital piece of the urban road network. It dates back to the
Stephenson plan of the 1950s. If we want to separate heavy vehicles from
suburban passenger vehicles, Roe 8 is important. It is a very expensive
project. I think it is in the order of $600 million or thereabouts. The state
government is going through the process now of environmental approval.
Mr M. McGowan : It's
done.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : No; the Leader of the Opposition is wrong again. The
conditions have been set; they are now out for public consultation. That is
where the process is at. I do not know why the Leader of the Opposition
giggles, because I think it is important that Roe 8 be built.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This government is committed to building Roe 8.
Mr D.J. Kelly :
When?
Mr B.S. Wyatt : In
the fullness of time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
We have a lot of capital works projects on. We have a lot of road projects. We
came to government after eight years of neglect by Labor of the road network in
the Perth metropolitan area. The Swan Valley bypass is being built, the
freeways have been extended, extra lanes have been added, interchanges have
been done, and work is being done at the airport. As part of that program,
there will be Roe 8. I am not guaranteeing that Roe 8 will be built during this
term. I am not suggesting that at all; indeed, that is not suggested in there.
We are committed to building Roe 8.
Mr M. McGowan :
When?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
understand that the opposition is opposed to Roe 8, so it is opposed to taking
heavy vehicles away from passenger vehicles.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the first time. It is not the aim
of question time to have people drowned out.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Roe 8 goes through a wetland area. I am familiar with it and most other members
are too. It is not beyond the wit of mankind to build a road system across and
over a wetland area. It is done all around the world in every city we could
name. The opposition sits with a local group that does not want to see that
road built and does not want to see any interference. During construction there
will be some interference. When that road is built, I imagine that a whole lot
of environmental approvals and enhancements to the area will go with it. But a
road that goes over a wetland can be built, and this government will do it. We
are not guaranteeing that it will be done in this term, but I hope that towards
the end of this term we will be progressing on that project. For the moment we
are doing what is necessary, and that is meeting the necessary environmental
conditions and approvals.
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