❓ Question on infrastructure in Perth's outer suburbs, focusing on cost of living, jobs, and economic diversification. The Minister's answer highlights Metronet's benefits and criticises the opposition's stance on public transport.
AnsweredQoN 63Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
State economy—Outer suburbs infrastructure
63. Ms Colleen Egan to
the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's record of delivering world-class infrastructure and
delivering for Perth's outer suburbs.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how the
delivery of key pieces of infrastructure in Perth's outer suburbs is driving
down the cost of living, delivering more jobs for Western Australians and
further diversifying the WA economy?
(2) Can the minister advise the house whether she
is aware of anyone who does not support the government's actions to deliver
this important infrastructure?
63. Ms Colleen Egan to
the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's record of delivering world-class infrastructure and
delivering for Perth's outer suburbs.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how the
delivery of key pieces of infrastructure in Perth's outer suburbs is driving
down the cost of living, delivering more jobs for Western Australians and
further diversifying the WA economy?
(2) Can the minister advise the house whether she
is aware of anyone who does not support the government's actions to deliver
this important infrastructure?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for her question and congratulate her on an incredible inaugural speech today.
(1)–(2) It is great to see another Kelmscott
alumni here in this chamber. Is that number three now? There have been three in
this chamber itself. Of course, the first time I met the member for Thornlie
was when she and her friend Kat were agisting a horse at my mum and dad's
property. To say that Perth is a small place is an understatement. How many
years ago was that now? It was probably over 30 years ago.
As the member for Thornlie
described in her speech, people who grow up in the outer suburbs, as many members
on this side did, understand the importance of so many things, in particular
transport and the fact that transport and rail connections can transform their opportunities,
whether it be connections to high schools, TAFEs or universities or to job
opportunities, and we have seen that throughout the delivery of Metronet. Of
course, we have seen incredible results so far, with thousands of people
getting on board. When we talk about the suburbs, we are talking, Mr Speaker, about
suburbs like High Wycombe, which is now being serviced by a high-class public
transport route, and, member for Butler, the beautiful Yanchep extension and, member
for Swan Hills, the extension to Ellenbrook. Of course, we are very much
anticipating the opening of the Thornlie–Cockburn Link on 9 June, as are
many members in this place. Again, these are new connections.
Today, as the Premier outlined, we
are seeing what the transformative Midland station will mean for the people
using that train station and for creating opportunities for new housing. This
is what a joined-up, across-government approach is—develop the
infrastructure, get the canvas available for new housing and work with the federal
government. Thousands of new homes are being built in proximity to public
transport. As we have said, this is not just about affordable housing; this is
about affordable living and people living close to public transport and being
able to use the train at an affordable one-zone fare to move around the suburbs,
giving people chances that they would not have if we were not investing in
Metronet.
We understand that, do we not?
We understand the importance of the suburbs and connecting people. But what we heard
last night in the inaugural speech of the member for Cottesloe—
Several members
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: We
have been reading it. We all loved that speech, because it has given us enough
content for at least another year! There I was thinking that I needed content,
but there was the member for Cottesloe! I saw the expression on the member for
Vasse's face yesterday.
Mr Basil Zempilas: You came in only halfway
through!
Ms Rita Saffioti: Yes, and I saw the expression that
the member for Vasse had when I walked in and I knew this must be a ripper of a
speech. It was pretty good!
Of course, when the member for Cottesloe was head of the WA
division of the Property Council of Australia, she loved Metronet. Remember the
member for Cottesloe's flip chart, which I will refer to again. Research by the
Property Council shows—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker : Members!
The minister has the floor. Carry on, minister.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: We have heard some very, very interesting
stories about the member for Central Wheatbelt, but I probably will not go
through those today.
The member for
Cottesloe said that research by the Property Council shows enormous community
support for Metronet. Members cannot wait for it—year upon year upon
year. That is how much the member loves Metronet. Then, yesterday, we thought:
Why does the Liberal Party not resonate with people living in the suburbs? Why
does it have only five seats representing people living across the suburbs? It
is because members opposite hate public transport and they hate the
opportunities it gives. They do not think people deserve quality
infrastructure. They do not believe the people in Byford are worth anything; they
are not worth a new train station, member for Darling Range. They do not
believe the people of Butler, Alkimos, Eglinton or Yanchep deserve train
stations. We know for sure that they do not believe the people of Ellenbrook
deserve a train station, because they lied to them and broke the promise year
after year. Yesterday, the member for Cottesloe said that the people in the
outer suburbs do not deserve this quality infrastructure.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: So the Leader of the Opposition does
not believe in the Yanchep rail extension. He does not believe in it. No wonder
the people of the suburbs turned off the Leader of the Opposition. No wonder
the Leader of the Opposition got moved out of every radio and TV program. Wherever
the people of the suburbs were listening, he got moved out of because he does
not understand the people of the suburbs. Remember—he was going to be
on Sunrise . He was going to be the WA
champion on Sunrise , but they worked out
that people in the suburbs do not like him. That is what they worked out!
Mr Basil Zempilas: I'm here!
Ms Rita Saffioti: Yes; I would look at you any day of
the week!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker : Leader of
the Opposition! The minister is about to wrap up, so please stop interjecting
on her.
Ms Rita Saffioti: We know they have turned their backs
of the people of the suburbs; we know that. We can see that by the lack of
numbers on the other side and the fact that the member for Cottesloe believes
sinking a rail line through Cottesloe is justified but building a rail station
in Ellenbrook is not. They are the standards of a Liberal Party whose members do
not care, do not know and have never lived in the suburbs out there.
for her question and congratulate her on an incredible inaugural speech today.
(1)–(2) It is great to see another Kelmscott
alumni here in this chamber. Is that number three now? There have been three in
this chamber itself. Of course, the first time I met the member for Thornlie
was when she and her friend Kat were agisting a horse at my mum and dad's
property. To say that Perth is a small place is an understatement. How many
years ago was that now? It was probably over 30 years ago.
As the member for Thornlie
described in her speech, people who grow up in the outer suburbs, as many members
on this side did, understand the importance of so many things, in particular
transport and the fact that transport and rail connections can transform their opportunities,
whether it be connections to high schools, TAFEs or universities or to job
opportunities, and we have seen that throughout the delivery of Metronet. Of
course, we have seen incredible results so far, with thousands of people
getting on board. When we talk about the suburbs, we are talking, Mr Speaker, about
suburbs like High Wycombe, which is now being serviced by a high-class public
transport route, and, member for Butler, the beautiful Yanchep extension and, member
for Swan Hills, the extension to Ellenbrook. Of course, we are very much
anticipating the opening of the Thornlie–Cockburn Link on 9 June, as are
many members in this place. Again, these are new connections.
Today, as the Premier outlined, we
are seeing what the transformative Midland station will mean for the people
using that train station and for creating opportunities for new housing. This
is what a joined-up, across-government approach is—develop the
infrastructure, get the canvas available for new housing and work with the federal
government. Thousands of new homes are being built in proximity to public
transport. As we have said, this is not just about affordable housing; this is
about affordable living and people living close to public transport and being
able to use the train at an affordable one-zone fare to move around the suburbs,
giving people chances that they would not have if we were not investing in
Metronet.
We understand that, do we not?
We understand the importance of the suburbs and connecting people. But what we heard
last night in the inaugural speech of the member for Cottesloe—
Several members
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: We
have been reading it. We all loved that speech, because it has given us enough
content for at least another year! There I was thinking that I needed content,
but there was the member for Cottesloe! I saw the expression on the member for
Vasse's face yesterday.
Mr Basil Zempilas: You came in only halfway
through!
Ms Rita Saffioti: Yes, and I saw the expression that
the member for Vasse had when I walked in and I knew this must be a ripper of a
speech. It was pretty good!
Of course, when the member for Cottesloe was head of the WA
division of the Property Council of Australia, she loved Metronet. Remember the
member for Cottesloe's flip chart, which I will refer to again. Research by the
Property Council shows—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker : Members!
The minister has the floor. Carry on, minister.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: We have heard some very, very interesting
stories about the member for Central Wheatbelt, but I probably will not go
through those today.
The member for
Cottesloe said that research by the Property Council shows enormous community
support for Metronet. Members cannot wait for it—year upon year upon
year. That is how much the member loves Metronet. Then, yesterday, we thought:
Why does the Liberal Party not resonate with people living in the suburbs? Why
does it have only five seats representing people living across the suburbs? It
is because members opposite hate public transport and they hate the
opportunities it gives. They do not think people deserve quality
infrastructure. They do not believe the people in Byford are worth anything; they
are not worth a new train station, member for Darling Range. They do not
believe the people of Butler, Alkimos, Eglinton or Yanchep deserve train
stations. We know for sure that they do not believe the people of Ellenbrook
deserve a train station, because they lied to them and broke the promise year
after year. Yesterday, the member for Cottesloe said that the people in the
outer suburbs do not deserve this quality infrastructure.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: So the Leader of the Opposition does
not believe in the Yanchep rail extension. He does not believe in it. No wonder
the people of the suburbs turned off the Leader of the Opposition. No wonder
the Leader of the Opposition got moved out of every radio and TV program. Wherever
the people of the suburbs were listening, he got moved out of because he does
not understand the people of the suburbs. Remember—he was going to be
on Sunrise . He was going to be the WA
champion on Sunrise , but they worked out
that people in the suburbs do not like him. That is what they worked out!
Mr Basil Zempilas: I'm here!
Ms Rita Saffioti: Yes; I would look at you any day of
the week!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker : Leader of
the Opposition! The minister is about to wrap up, so please stop interjecting
on her.
Ms Rita Saffioti: We know they have turned their backs
of the people of the suburbs; we know that. We can see that by the lack of
numbers on the other side and the fact that the member for Cottesloe believes
sinking a rail line through Cottesloe is justified but building a rail station
in Ellenbrook is not. They are the standards of a Liberal Party whose members do
not care, do not know and have never lived in the suburbs out there.
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