❓ Opposition Leader McGowan questions Premier Barnett on using asset sales to fund the Forrestfield-Airport Link, challenging the consistency of the government's financial strategy. Barnett defends the project and accuses the opposition of undermining public confidence.
AnsweredQoN 543Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FORRESTFIELD–AIRPORT
LINK PLAN
543. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Given the Premier said that he would have asset sales to contain the growth in debt
and it would be used to control the absolute level of debt and to pay down
debt, how does he reconcile that with his comments that it will now be used to
pay for his more than $2.2 billion railway?
LINK PLAN
543. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Given the Premier said that he would have asset sales to contain the growth in debt
and it would be used to control the absolute level of debt and to pay down
debt, how does he reconcile that with his comments that it will now be used to
pay for his more than $2.2 billion railway?
AnswerView source ↗
I thought I just explained it.
Mr
M. McGowan : That is a ridiculous explanation.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Ridiculous—it is self-evident. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is
never in charge of a maths class at a school.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It is clear that the opposition is doing all that it can to undermine public
confidence in a major infrastructure project. All it can! If the opposition
does not support the Forrestfield–airport–Belmont–Perth
railway, please tell us. Does the opposition support it? I suspect it does not.
Does the opposition support the rail project? Come on!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members! Member for Girrawheen, I do not know who you are imploring with those
hand movements, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The Labor Party is engaged in crass politics. Labor members are rattled and
their behaviour since the announcement of this rail project, as exemplified by
their behaviour now, just proves my point. The Liberal Party committed itself to
this railway during the election campaign and 18 months' work has gone
on. We have come out with an announcement for a tunnel and we have put a cost
on it of $2.2 billion, which is probably generous. We have announced that
construction will start in 2016 and it will be completed in 2020. On the latest
estimates of patronage numbers, there will be 20 000 patrons using the rail
line every day as of 2020, and 30 000 patrons using it by 2030. That is
compared with the much-debated Ellenbrook rail line, which would have 10 000
patrons. This is by far the leading public transport project.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : The
wall of noise again.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This government is getting on with the job; we are going to build the project.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Willagee!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Was the opposition's attitude any different on the stadium? No. The
opposition opposed the stadium. Was the opposition's attitude any
different on Elizabeth Quay? Not at all. Was the opposition's attitude
any different on the children's hospital? Those projects are all
nearing completion.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, that is the attitude of the Labor Party to the projects that this
state government is undertaking on budget and completing. Members opposite even
came out and criticised the National ANZAC Centre in Albany. That is their
typical behaviour.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader
of the Opposition!
Mr
M. McGowan : That is a ridiculous explanation.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Ridiculous—it is self-evident. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is
never in charge of a maths class at a school.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It is clear that the opposition is doing all that it can to undermine public
confidence in a major infrastructure project. All it can! If the opposition
does not support the Forrestfield–airport–Belmont–Perth
railway, please tell us. Does the opposition support it? I suspect it does not.
Does the opposition support the rail project? Come on!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members! Member for Girrawheen, I do not know who you are imploring with those
hand movements, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The Labor Party is engaged in crass politics. Labor members are rattled and
their behaviour since the announcement of this rail project, as exemplified by
their behaviour now, just proves my point. The Liberal Party committed itself to
this railway during the election campaign and 18 months' work has gone
on. We have come out with an announcement for a tunnel and we have put a cost
on it of $2.2 billion, which is probably generous. We have announced that
construction will start in 2016 and it will be completed in 2020. On the latest
estimates of patronage numbers, there will be 20 000 patrons using the rail
line every day as of 2020, and 30 000 patrons using it by 2030. That is
compared with the much-debated Ellenbrook rail line, which would have 10 000
patrons. This is by far the leading public transport project.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : The
wall of noise again.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This government is getting on with the job; we are going to build the project.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Willagee!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Was the opposition's attitude any different on the stadium? No. The
opposition opposed the stadium. Was the opposition's attitude any
different on Elizabeth Quay? Not at all. Was the opposition's attitude
any different on the children's hospital? Those projects are all
nearing completion.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, that is the attitude of the Labor Party to the projects that this
state government is undertaking on budget and completing. Members opposite even
came out and criticised the National ANZAC Centre in Albany. That is their
typical behaviour.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader
of the Opposition!
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