❓ Question on the McGowan government's decision to stop the Roe 8 project and protect the Beeliar wetlands, and an update on solutions for truck traffic in the southern suburbs. The Minister's answer defends the government's actions and criticises the opposition.
AnsweredQoN 370Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BEELIAR WETLANDS —
ROE 8
370. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to permanently protect the Beeliar wetlands,
which was delivered last week with the passing of the Metropolitan Region
Scheme (Beeliar Wetlands) Bill 2021.
(1) Can the
minister remind the house how this government came to the decision to stop the
destructive Roe 8 project and protect the wetlands?
(2) Can the
minister update the house on the work that is underway to deliver a long-term
responsible solution to getting trucks off local roads in the southern suburbs?
ROE 8
370. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to permanently protect the Beeliar wetlands,
which was delivered last week with the passing of the Metropolitan Region
Scheme (Beeliar Wetlands) Bill 2021.
(1) Can the
minister remind the house how this government came to the decision to stop the
destructive Roe 8 project and protect the wetlands?
(2) Can the
minister update the house on the work that is underway to deliver a long-term
responsible solution to getting trucks off local roads in the southern suburbs?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Bicton for that question and, of course, for her work over
many years to help to deliver this commitment. It was with great pride last
week that we finally delivered the commitment that we gave to the people—that is, to save the Beeliar wetlands for
future generations. Members will remember that we took that policy
commitment to the 2017 election and, of course, the Liberal and National
Parties frustrated it in the other place. We again took that policy to the 2021
election. I will refer to some of the comments
and the attitudes of the Liberal and National Parties in a minute. What we have
been able to do is to change the reservation from roads to parks and
recreation and to extend the A-class reserve boundary to include the Beeliar wetlands.
This has been a fight over many
decades, and people have been working very hard year in, year out to deliver
it. I thank my parliamentary colleagues the member for Fremantle, the member
for Bicton and the member for Willagee. I also thank the federal member for
Fremantle, Josh Wilson, for all his work, too. I acknowledge all the work done by the general community and also some
community leaders, in particular Kim Dravnieks, and Kate Kelly from the
Save Beeliar Wetlands group. I acknowledge all the work they did over many
years.
We have extended the A-class reserve.
We are deleting the Roe 8 corridor. We are also building new infrastructure
under the stewardship of the Minister for Environment—extended
boardwalks and more infrastructure so more
people can appreciate these beautiful wetlands. We are doing that and, at the same
time, we are delivering the broader commitments of moving more freight onto
rail, improving the roads leading to Fremantle, such as High Street, and
developing intermodals. All those commitments are being delivered.
What
is the attitude of the Liberal and National Parties? They still want to build
Roe 8–Roe 9. We would think the Nationals WA would be more concerned
about regional roads, but their commitment has always been to the Perth Freight
Link. It is the only road project that I have heard their members talk about.
In the other house, Hon Nick Goiran
and his new apprentice, Neil Thomson, are talking about these projects. Nick
Goiran —
Point of Order
Dr D.J.
HONEY : The minister should refer to members by their full title.
The
SPEAKER : That is correct —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Sorry; I am
giving a ruling. If you refer to a member in another place, you need to refer
to them appropriately.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Sorry about
that. They are Hon Nick Goiran and Hon Neil Thomson.
Hon
Nick Goiran led the Liberal Party from a record, I think, six seats in the
South Metropolitan Region to zero seats . ''Honey, I shrunk the
Liberal Party''—that is a description of Hon Nick Goiran! He
shrunk the Liberal Party into oblivion and now he is still in the other place
insulting our commitment and the people of Western Australia who have voted on
this issue twice.
Let
us look at that whole corridor. The member for Riverton, member for Jandakot,
member for Bateman and member for Bicton all fought on this issue.
Again, we delivered on the overwhelming response that people wanted to save
Beeliar wetlands and an alternative freight and trade plan for Western Australia.
thank the member for Bicton for that question and, of course, for her work over
many years to help to deliver this commitment. It was with great pride last
week that we finally delivered the commitment that we gave to the people—that is, to save the Beeliar wetlands for
future generations. Members will remember that we took that policy
commitment to the 2017 election and, of course, the Liberal and National
Parties frustrated it in the other place. We again took that policy to the 2021
election. I will refer to some of the comments
and the attitudes of the Liberal and National Parties in a minute. What we have
been able to do is to change the reservation from roads to parks and
recreation and to extend the A-class reserve boundary to include the Beeliar wetlands.
This has been a fight over many
decades, and people have been working very hard year in, year out to deliver
it. I thank my parliamentary colleagues the member for Fremantle, the member
for Bicton and the member for Willagee. I also thank the federal member for
Fremantle, Josh Wilson, for all his work, too. I acknowledge all the work done by the general community and also some
community leaders, in particular Kim Dravnieks, and Kate Kelly from the
Save Beeliar Wetlands group. I acknowledge all the work they did over many
years.
We have extended the A-class reserve.
We are deleting the Roe 8 corridor. We are also building new infrastructure
under the stewardship of the Minister for Environment—extended
boardwalks and more infrastructure so more
people can appreciate these beautiful wetlands. We are doing that and, at the same
time, we are delivering the broader commitments of moving more freight onto
rail, improving the roads leading to Fremantle, such as High Street, and
developing intermodals. All those commitments are being delivered.
What
is the attitude of the Liberal and National Parties? They still want to build
Roe 8–Roe 9. We would think the Nationals WA would be more concerned
about regional roads, but their commitment has always been to the Perth Freight
Link. It is the only road project that I have heard their members talk about.
In the other house, Hon Nick Goiran
and his new apprentice, Neil Thomson, are talking about these projects. Nick
Goiran —
Point of Order
Dr D.J.
HONEY : The minister should refer to members by their full title.
The
SPEAKER : That is correct —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Sorry; I am
giving a ruling. If you refer to a member in another place, you need to refer
to them appropriately.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Sorry about
that. They are Hon Nick Goiran and Hon Neil Thomson.
Hon
Nick Goiran led the Liberal Party from a record, I think, six seats in the
South Metropolitan Region to zero seats . ''Honey, I shrunk the
Liberal Party''—that is a description of Hon Nick Goiran! He
shrunk the Liberal Party into oblivion and now he is still in the other place
insulting our commitment and the people of Western Australia who have voted on
this issue twice.
Let
us look at that whole corridor. The member for Riverton, member for Jandakot,
member for Bateman and member for Bicton all fought on this issue.
Again, we delivered on the overwhelming response that people wanted to save
Beeliar wetlands and an alternative freight and trade plan for Western Australia.
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