❓ Question regarding the Burswood Park racetrack project's business case and federal funding prospects. The Minister's response avoids direct answers, instead attacking the opposition's record and questioning the Leader of the Opposition's ego.
AnsweredQoN 398Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Burswood Park motorplex
398. Ms Sandra Brewer to
the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the
racetrack at Burswood.
(1) Has a business case been completed?
(2) Will the minister proceed with the racetrack
now that the assistant minister to the Prime Minister has indicated that
federal funding is unlikely due to the fact that he does not support it?
398. Ms Sandra Brewer to
the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the
racetrack at Burswood.
(1) Has a business case been completed?
(2) Will the minister proceed with the racetrack
now that the assistant minister to the Prime Minister has indicated that
federal funding is unlikely due to the fact that he does not support it?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Cottesloe
for that question. Of course, the member for Cottesloe, I think last time we
were in the house, had to scurry out of the Parliament after she lost control.
Did members see all that, where she lost control and had to scurry out of the
Parliament? I think it is pretty clear that we are committed to delivering an
incredible sports and entertainment precinct in Burswood.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, you have asked
the minister a question. Allow her to respond.
Ms Rita Saffioti: As I have said on many occasions, we
are about looking to the future, looking beyond the commentary, the
commentators—
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, I am
calling you to order for the first time.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Looking to the future, all of us
have a responsibility to create the jobs, the vibrancy and the opportunities
for future generations. I am very passionate about that. The opposition, the
Liberal Party members, have opposed pretty much everything I have done. They
opposed the Ellenbrook rail line. They said there was no-one living there. They
opposed the Yanchep extension, saying there was no-one living there. They do
not like the Byford rail line extension. They reckon there is no-one living
there. They have opposed pretty much everything I have done. I have had death
threats on taxi reform. I remember when I modified the Nedlands planning
scheme. It was vicious, and there was commentary after commentary. Everything I
have done, such as the Boorloo Bridge, the Leader of the Opposition opposed.
Pretty much every project we on this side have delivered has been opposed by
the opposition.
Ms Sandra Brewer: It's being opposed by federal
Labor.
Ms Rita Saffioti: It has been opposed by the
opposition.
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe, you asked a
question. Let the minister respond.
Ms Rita Saffioti: We do not expect any money from the
federal government for this project. We never asked for it; we do not expect—
Ms Sandra Brewer: Why did the Premier write to
ask for it?
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe—
Mr Basil Zempilas: The Premier said in his
letter—
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe, I am calling you to
order for the first time.
Mr John Carey: Out of control, Cottesloe! Out
of control.
The Speaker: Minister.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Out of control. The Leader of the
Opposition made a state conference not about the future of Western Australia
but about himself. He was standing up, saying there was some sort of divine
intervention that brought this person to this Parliament. I mean, honestly! The
ego is beyond description, and we are seeing it at play—look at that
look now. It is an ego—
Ms Sandra Brewer: You're obsessed with him. You
are!
Several members
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I
would say: we do not need to be obsessed with him because he is obsessed with
himself.
I do not think we
need to be worried about that because anyone who builds an entire conference
not about health, not about any policy, but just—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: It was all about himself—that
everything has led to this point.
Point of order
Mr Liam Staltari: Mr Speaker, the Treasurer was asked
a very specific question about the business case for a racetrack and she has somehow
reverted to type on these pre-prepared talking points.
A minister
interjected.
The Speaker: Minister, I am going to call you for the
first time as well. Member for Carine, I will not uphold that point of order. The
minister is actually putting in context her response to the question. She will
conclude her remarks about the question, surely.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: The Leader of the Opposition said:
It has dawned on me in recent times
that actually, that first career, the broadcast career—
The commentary—
was the career that was preparing me
for this one
That is from the
newspaper. Zempilas told the party, "The one that I am meant to be here
for."
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Does the member want to talk about
polling? The member wants to talk about polling! Let us go back to the secret
polling that the Leader of the Opposition did on the poor deputy leader. Remember
the secret was—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, we are not
talking about possum polling. Minister—
Ms Rita Saffioti interjected.
The Speaker: Minister, have you finished?
Ms Rita Saffioti: I was just finishing the quote about
him.
for that question. Of course, the member for Cottesloe, I think last time we
were in the house, had to scurry out of the Parliament after she lost control.
Did members see all that, where she lost control and had to scurry out of the
Parliament? I think it is pretty clear that we are committed to delivering an
incredible sports and entertainment precinct in Burswood.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, you have asked
the minister a question. Allow her to respond.
Ms Rita Saffioti: As I have said on many occasions, we
are about looking to the future, looking beyond the commentary, the
commentators—
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, I am
calling you to order for the first time.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Looking to the future, all of us
have a responsibility to create the jobs, the vibrancy and the opportunities
for future generations. I am very passionate about that. The opposition, the
Liberal Party members, have opposed pretty much everything I have done. They
opposed the Ellenbrook rail line. They said there was no-one living there. They
opposed the Yanchep extension, saying there was no-one living there. They do
not like the Byford rail line extension. They reckon there is no-one living
there. They have opposed pretty much everything I have done. I have had death
threats on taxi reform. I remember when I modified the Nedlands planning
scheme. It was vicious, and there was commentary after commentary. Everything I
have done, such as the Boorloo Bridge, the Leader of the Opposition opposed.
Pretty much every project we on this side have delivered has been opposed by
the opposition.
Ms Sandra Brewer: It's being opposed by federal
Labor.
Ms Rita Saffioti: It has been opposed by the
opposition.
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe, you asked a
question. Let the minister respond.
Ms Rita Saffioti: We do not expect any money from the
federal government for this project. We never asked for it; we do not expect—
Ms Sandra Brewer: Why did the Premier write to
ask for it?
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe—
Mr Basil Zempilas: The Premier said in his
letter—
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe, I am calling you to
order for the first time.
Mr John Carey: Out of control, Cottesloe! Out
of control.
The Speaker: Minister.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Out of control. The Leader of the
Opposition made a state conference not about the future of Western Australia
but about himself. He was standing up, saying there was some sort of divine
intervention that brought this person to this Parliament. I mean, honestly! The
ego is beyond description, and we are seeing it at play—look at that
look now. It is an ego—
Ms Sandra Brewer: You're obsessed with him. You
are!
Several members
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I
would say: we do not need to be obsessed with him because he is obsessed with
himself.
I do not think we
need to be worried about that because anyone who builds an entire conference
not about health, not about any policy, but just—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: It was all about himself—that
everything has led to this point.
Point of order
Mr Liam Staltari: Mr Speaker, the Treasurer was asked
a very specific question about the business case for a racetrack and she has somehow
reverted to type on these pre-prepared talking points.
A minister
interjected.
The Speaker: Minister, I am going to call you for the
first time as well. Member for Carine, I will not uphold that point of order. The
minister is actually putting in context her response to the question. She will
conclude her remarks about the question, surely.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: The Leader of the Opposition said:
It has dawned on me in recent times
that actually, that first career, the broadcast career—
The commentary—
was the career that was preparing me
for this one
That is from the
newspaper. Zempilas told the party, "The one that I am meant to be here
for."
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Does the member want to talk about
polling? The member wants to talk about polling! Let us go back to the secret
polling that the Leader of the Opposition did on the poor deputy leader. Remember
the secret was—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, we are not
talking about possum polling. Minister—
Ms Rita Saffioti interjected.
The Speaker: Minister, have you finished?
Ms Rita Saffioti: I was just finishing the quote about
him.
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