❓ Premier Court defends the government's urban railway program, contrasting it with the previous Labor government's unfulfilled promises and alleged financial mismanagement. He accuses the opposition of hypocrisy regarding privatisation.
AnsweredQoN 289Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Yesterday the Premier announced a $1.1b urban railway program that will link Clarkson in the north with Mandurah in the south. Following on this announcement there was an extraordinary situation in which the Opposition claimed some credit for this initiative. To put the record straight, can the Premier tell the House how this initiative was developed? Mr COURT
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Leader of the Opposition said the southern rail had been a Labor Party proposal for over a decade now. I repeat - for over a decade now. The problem is that people judge governments by what they do, not by what they say. The Opposition was in government eight to 10 years ago. Credit must be given where credit is due: It was going to do it and it put up a sign at Mandurah saying “Proposed railway station”. It is just like health: The Opposition was going to build a new hospital down at Bunbury but never quite got around to it; however, it did put up a sign. Mr Kierath: It could not find the money. Mr COURT: Yes. Why did it not proceed with the railway? It did not proceed because it had sent this State broke with a capital B and there were no funds. The Opposition was in an absolutely desperate state with those Rothwells Ltd petrochemical-type deals, spending $1b to buy blue-sky companies and the like. For the Opposition to say it was going to build this railway 10 years ago does not stack up because it had sent the State broke. It is also interesting to hear the Opposition talk of taking the railway to Fremantle. Both the planning and construction of the freeway south have added to the expense of this project. The Opposition did not plan a public transport corridor down the middle of the freeway. We have had to shift one side of the freeway by widening it so that we can put a public transport corridor down the centre. The Opposition had no intention of putting in place proper planning to provide that option, whether or not it would have used it. Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Mr COURT replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Leader of the Opposition said the southern rail had been a Labor Party proposal for over a decade now. I repeat - for over a decade now. The problem is that people judge governments by what they do, not by what they say. The Opposition was in government eight to 10 years ago. Credit must be given where credit is due: It was going to do it and it put up a sign at Mandurah saying “Proposed railway station”. It is just like health: The Opposition was going to build a new hospital down at Bunbury but never quite got around to it; however, it did put up a sign. Mr Kierath: It could not find the money. Mr COURT: Yes. Why did it not proceed with the railway? It did not proceed because it had sent this State broke with a capital B and there were no funds. The Opposition was in an absolutely desperate state with those Rothwells Ltd petrochemical-type deals, spending $1b to buy blue-sky companies and the like. For the Opposition to say it was going to build this railway 10 years ago does not stack up because it had sent the State broke. It is also interesting to hear the Opposition talk of taking the railway to Fremantle. Both the planning and construction of the freeway south have added to the expense of this project. The Opposition did not plan a public transport corridor down the middle of the freeway. We have had to shift one side of the freeway by widening it so that we can put a public transport corridor down the centre. The Opposition had no intention of putting in place proper planning to provide that option, whether or not it would have used it. Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Leader of the Opposition said the southern rail had been a Labor Party proposal for over a decade now. I repeat - for over a decade now. The problem is that people judge governments by what they do, not by what they say. The Opposition was in government eight to 10 years ago. Credit must be given where credit is due: It was going to do it and it put up a sign at Mandurah saying “Proposed railway station”. It is just like health: The Opposition was going to build a new hospital down at Bunbury but never quite got around to it; however, it did put up a sign. Mr Kierath: It could not find the money. Mr COURT: Yes. Why did it not proceed with the railway? It did not proceed because it had sent this State broke with a capital B and there were no funds. The Opposition was in an absolutely desperate state with those Rothwells Ltd petrochemical-type deals, spending $1b to buy blue-sky companies and the like. For the Opposition to say it was going to build this railway 10 years ago does not stack up because it had sent the State broke. It is also interesting to hear the Opposition talk of taking the railway to Fremantle. Both the planning and construction of the freeway south have added to the expense of this project. The Opposition did not plan a public transport corridor down the middle of the freeway. We have had to shift one side of the freeway by widening it so that we can put a public transport corridor down the centre. The Opposition had no intention of putting in place proper planning to provide that option, whether or not it would have used it. Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
The Leader of the Opposition said the southern rail had been a Labor Party proposal for over a decade now. I repeat - for over a decade now. The problem is that people judge governments by what they do, not by what they say. The Opposition was in government eight to 10 years ago. Credit must be given where credit is due: It was going to do it and it put up a sign at Mandurah saying “Proposed railway station”. It is just like health: The Opposition was going to build a new hospital down at Bunbury but never quite got around to it; however, it did put up a sign. Mr Kierath: It could not find the money. Mr COURT: Yes. Why did it not proceed with the railway? It did not proceed because it had sent this State broke with a capital B and there were no funds. The Opposition was in an absolutely desperate state with those Rothwells Ltd petrochemical-type deals, spending $1b to buy blue-sky companies and the like. For the Opposition to say it was going to build this railway 10 years ago does not stack up because it had sent the State broke. It is also interesting to hear the Opposition talk of taking the railway to Fremantle. Both the planning and construction of the freeway south have added to the expense of this project. The Opposition did not plan a public transport corridor down the middle of the freeway. We have had to shift one side of the freeway by widening it so that we can put a public transport corridor down the centre. The Opposition had no intention of putting in place proper planning to provide that option, whether or not it would have used it. Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Mr Kierath: It could not find the money. Mr COURT: Yes. Why did it not proceed with the railway? It did not proceed because it had sent this State broke with a capital B and there were no funds. The Opposition was in an absolutely desperate state with those Rothwells Ltd petrochemical-type deals, spending $1b to buy blue-sky companies and the like. For the Opposition to say it was going to build this railway 10 years ago does not stack up because it had sent the State broke. It is also interesting to hear the Opposition talk of taking the railway to Fremantle. Both the planning and construction of the freeway south have added to the expense of this project. The Opposition did not plan a public transport corridor down the middle of the freeway. We have had to shift one side of the freeway by widening it so that we can put a public transport corridor down the centre. The Opposition had no intention of putting in place proper planning to provide that option, whether or not it would have used it. Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Mr COURT: Yes. Why did it not proceed with the railway? It did not proceed because it had sent this State broke with a capital B and there were no funds. The Opposition was in an absolutely desperate state with those Rothwells Ltd petrochemical-type deals, spending $1b to buy blue-sky companies and the like. For the Opposition to say it was going to build this railway 10 years ago does not stack up because it had sent the State broke. It is also interesting to hear the Opposition talk of taking the railway to Fremantle. Both the planning and construction of the freeway south have added to the expense of this project. The Opposition did not plan a public transport corridor down the middle of the freeway. We have had to shift one side of the freeway by widening it so that we can put a public transport corridor down the centre. The Opposition had no intention of putting in place proper planning to provide that option, whether or not it would have used it. Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
For the Opposition to say it was going to build this railway 10 years ago does not stack up because it had sent the State broke. It is also interesting to hear the Opposition talk of taking the railway to Fremantle. Both the planning and construction of the freeway south have added to the expense of this project. The Opposition did not plan a public transport corridor down the middle of the freeway. We have had to shift one side of the freeway by widening it so that we can put a public transport corridor down the centre. The Opposition had no intention of putting in place proper planning to provide that option, whether or not it would have used it. Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Mr COURT replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Leader of the Opposition said the southern rail had been a Labor Party proposal for over a decade now. I repeat - for over a decade now. The problem is that people judge governments by what they do, not by what they say. The Opposition was in government eight to 10 years ago. Credit must be given where credit is due: It was going to do it and it put up a sign at Mandurah saying “Proposed railway station”. It is just like health: The Opposition was going to build a new hospital down at Bunbury but never quite got around to it; however, it did put up a sign. Mr Kierath: It could not find the money. Mr COURT: Yes. Why did it not proceed with the railway? It did not proceed because it had sent this State broke with a capital B and there were no funds. The Opposition was in an absolutely desperate state with those Rothwells Ltd petrochemical-type deals, spending $1b to buy blue-sky companies and the like. For the Opposition to say it was going to build this railway 10 years ago does not stack up because it had sent the State broke. It is also interesting to hear the Opposition talk of taking the railway to Fremantle. Both the planning and construction of the freeway south have added to the expense of this project. The Opposition did not plan a public transport corridor down the middle of the freeway. We have had to shift one side of the freeway by widening it so that we can put a public transport corridor down the centre. The Opposition had no intention of putting in place proper planning to provide that option, whether or not it would have used it. Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Leader of the Opposition said the southern rail had been a Labor Party proposal for over a decade now. I repeat - for over a decade now. The problem is that people judge governments by what they do, not by what they say. The Opposition was in government eight to 10 years ago. Credit must be given where credit is due: It was going to do it and it put up a sign at Mandurah saying “Proposed railway station”. It is just like health: The Opposition was going to build a new hospital down at Bunbury but never quite got around to it; however, it did put up a sign. Mr Kierath: It could not find the money. Mr COURT: Yes. Why did it not proceed with the railway? It did not proceed because it had sent this State broke with a capital B and there were no funds. The Opposition was in an absolutely desperate state with those Rothwells Ltd petrochemical-type deals, spending $1b to buy blue-sky companies and the like. For the Opposition to say it was going to build this railway 10 years ago does not stack up because it had sent the State broke. It is also interesting to hear the Opposition talk of taking the railway to Fremantle. Both the planning and construction of the freeway south have added to the expense of this project. The Opposition did not plan a public transport corridor down the middle of the freeway. We have had to shift one side of the freeway by widening it so that we can put a public transport corridor down the centre. The Opposition had no intention of putting in place proper planning to provide that option, whether or not it would have used it. Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
The Leader of the Opposition said the southern rail had been a Labor Party proposal for over a decade now. I repeat - for over a decade now. The problem is that people judge governments by what they do, not by what they say. The Opposition was in government eight to 10 years ago. Credit must be given where credit is due: It was going to do it and it put up a sign at Mandurah saying “Proposed railway station”. It is just like health: The Opposition was going to build a new hospital down at Bunbury but never quite got around to it; however, it did put up a sign. Mr Kierath: It could not find the money. Mr COURT: Yes. Why did it not proceed with the railway? It did not proceed because it had sent this State broke with a capital B and there were no funds. The Opposition was in an absolutely desperate state with those Rothwells Ltd petrochemical-type deals, spending $1b to buy blue-sky companies and the like. For the Opposition to say it was going to build this railway 10 years ago does not stack up because it had sent the State broke. It is also interesting to hear the Opposition talk of taking the railway to Fremantle. Both the planning and construction of the freeway south have added to the expense of this project. The Opposition did not plan a public transport corridor down the middle of the freeway. We have had to shift one side of the freeway by widening it so that we can put a public transport corridor down the centre. The Opposition had no intention of putting in place proper planning to provide that option, whether or not it would have used it. Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Mr Kierath: It could not find the money. Mr COURT: Yes. Why did it not proceed with the railway? It did not proceed because it had sent this State broke with a capital B and there were no funds. The Opposition was in an absolutely desperate state with those Rothwells Ltd petrochemical-type deals, spending $1b to buy blue-sky companies and the like. For the Opposition to say it was going to build this railway 10 years ago does not stack up because it had sent the State broke. It is also interesting to hear the Opposition talk of taking the railway to Fremantle. Both the planning and construction of the freeway south have added to the expense of this project. The Opposition did not plan a public transport corridor down the middle of the freeway. We have had to shift one side of the freeway by widening it so that we can put a public transport corridor down the centre. The Opposition had no intention of putting in place proper planning to provide that option, whether or not it would have used it. Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Mr COURT: Yes. Why did it not proceed with the railway? It did not proceed because it had sent this State broke with a capital B and there were no funds. The Opposition was in an absolutely desperate state with those Rothwells Ltd petrochemical-type deals, spending $1b to buy blue-sky companies and the like. For the Opposition to say it was going to build this railway 10 years ago does not stack up because it had sent the State broke. It is also interesting to hear the Opposition talk of taking the railway to Fremantle. Both the planning and construction of the freeway south have added to the expense of this project. The Opposition did not plan a public transport corridor down the middle of the freeway. We have had to shift one side of the freeway by widening it so that we can put a public transport corridor down the centre. The Opposition had no intention of putting in place proper planning to provide that option, whether or not it would have used it. Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
For the Opposition to say it was going to build this railway 10 years ago does not stack up because it had sent the State broke. It is also interesting to hear the Opposition talk of taking the railway to Fremantle. Both the planning and construction of the freeway south have added to the expense of this project. The Opposition did not plan a public transport corridor down the middle of the freeway. We have had to shift one side of the freeway by widening it so that we can put a public transport corridor down the centre. The Opposition had no intention of putting in place proper planning to provide that option, whether or not it would have used it. Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Another point I make is the Opposition said it would check the proceeds of sale of AlintaGas to ensure that the balance was right. It said it would examine the way in which the Government spends those proceeds and it would put up alternatives as part of the election campaign. What a hide it has! It was totally opposed to the sale and now it wants to sit down and work out how it will spend those moneys. It really has a nerve. The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
The last point I make on privatisation is the deception of the Leader of the Opposition on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition was involved in preparing the sale of the Rural and Industries Bank of Western Australia and preparing the sale of the State Government Insurance Office. Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Mr Kobelke: You are getting desperate now. Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Mr COURT: Not at all. The deception is that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not privatise the Water Corporation, Western Power or Westrail passenger freight. Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Mr Kobelke: Will you give that guarantee? Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
Mr COURT: I have already said we will not do that. Interestingly, the Opposition does not say what it will privatise. It does not rule it out and it cannot rule it out because the Leader of the Opposition was at the forefront of privatisation, as were other Labor Governments around this country. The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
The difference is that when those opposite were in government they had to sell assets to pay the bills. We have been able to choose the timing on appropriate assets and most of those proceeds, instead of paying bills, have been used to retire debt. That is the difference between the two of us. The best those opposite can do is get up in this Parliament and say, “One thing we will privatise is the belltower.” That is interesting - it is something that was gifted to this State and a Labor Government wants to sell it off. That is about the standard of those opposite.
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