❓ Mr. Redman questions the adequacy of funding for Muirs Highway upgrades, citing safety concerns. Minister MacTiernan acknowledges the issue, commits to prioritizing it in the next budget, and deflects blame to the previous government.
AnsweredQoN 551Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Yesterday’s front page of the Albany Advertiser described Muirs Highway as a highway of death and stated that, following a near-miss in which a log truck lost its trailer after passing a car, a fatality is inevitable. (1) Why was only $250 000 allocated in the 2005-06 state budget to upgrade this dangerous road when Main Roads WA has consistently reported that $40 million is needed to widen it to an eight-metre seal width with passing lanes? (2) Is the minister aware that the Rocky Gully action group has said that the town’s residents are becoming too frightened to travel on the highway? (3) Is the minister prepared to carry out a personal inspection of the highway between Mount Barker and Manjimup? (4) Will the minister give an assurance that funding for road widening and passing lanes on the highway will be provided in next year’s state budget? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(4) I thank the member for his question. I recognise and share his concern about Muirs Highway. Indeed, I have been on the road with Peter McKenzie when he was the Manjimup shire president. Last month I also met with Kevin Forbes from the Shire of Plantagenet to discuss the same road. It is a problem. We have to work our way through the enormous amount of unmet road need across the state. Although I do not think that $250 000 will do the job, it is certainly more than what was put in by the Court government. During the eight years of the Court government, less than $900 000 was allocated to that road. The National Party must look at the attention it gave Muirs Highway during its term in government. In the coming budget round I have undertaken to put this road up as one of our main priorities. Main Roads has identified $40 million as the sum needed over the next 10 years. It is my view that some urgent work must be done. I made it clear to both Peter McKenzie and Kevin Forbes when they represented their various shires that I will put that highway on the government’s list of work that must be done.
(1) Why was only $250 000 allocated in the 2005-06 state budget to upgrade this dangerous road when Main Roads WA has consistently reported that $40 million is needed to widen it to an eight-metre seal width with passing lanes? (2) Is the minister aware that the Rocky Gully action group has said that the town’s residents are becoming too frightened to travel on the highway? (3) Is the minister prepared to carry out a personal inspection of the highway between Mount Barker and Manjimup? (4) Will the minister give an assurance that funding for road widening and passing lanes on the highway will be provided in next year’s state budget? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for his question. I recognise and share his concern about Muirs Highway. Indeed, I have been on the road with Peter McKenzie when he was the Manjimup shire president. Last month I also met with Kevin Forbes from the Shire of Plantagenet to discuss the same road. It is a problem. We have to work our way through the enormous amount of unmet road need across the state. Although I do not think that $250 000 will do the job, it is certainly more than what was put in by the Court government. During the eight years of the Court government, less than $900 000 was allocated to that road. The National Party must look at the attention it gave Muirs Highway during its term in government. In the coming budget round I have undertaken to put this road up as one of our main priorities. Main Roads has identified $40 million as the sum needed over the next 10 years. It is my view that some urgent work must be done. I made it clear to both Peter McKenzie and Kevin Forbes when they represented their various shires that I will put that highway on the government’s list of work that must be done.
(2) Is the minister aware that the Rocky Gully action group has said that the town’s residents are becoming too frightened to travel on the highway? (3) Is the minister prepared to carry out a personal inspection of the highway between Mount Barker and Manjimup? (4) Will the minister give an assurance that funding for road widening and passing lanes on the highway will be provided in next year’s state budget? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for his question. I recognise and share his concern about Muirs Highway. Indeed, I have been on the road with Peter McKenzie when he was the Manjimup shire president. Last month I also met with Kevin Forbes from the Shire of Plantagenet to discuss the same road. It is a problem. We have to work our way through the enormous amount of unmet road need across the state. Although I do not think that $250 000 will do the job, it is certainly more than what was put in by the Court government. During the eight years of the Court government, less than $900 000 was allocated to that road. The National Party must look at the attention it gave Muirs Highway during its term in government. In the coming budget round I have undertaken to put this road up as one of our main priorities. Main Roads has identified $40 million as the sum needed over the next 10 years. It is my view that some urgent work must be done. I made it clear to both Peter McKenzie and Kevin Forbes when they represented their various shires that I will put that highway on the government’s list of work that must be done.
(3) Is the minister prepared to carry out a personal inspection of the highway between Mount Barker and Manjimup? (4) Will the minister give an assurance that funding for road widening and passing lanes on the highway will be provided in next year’s state budget? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for his question. I recognise and share his concern about Muirs Highway. Indeed, I have been on the road with Peter McKenzie when he was the Manjimup shire president. Last month I also met with Kevin Forbes from the Shire of Plantagenet to discuss the same road. It is a problem. We have to work our way through the enormous amount of unmet road need across the state. Although I do not think that $250 000 will do the job, it is certainly more than what was put in by the Court government. During the eight years of the Court government, less than $900 000 was allocated to that road. The National Party must look at the attention it gave Muirs Highway during its term in government. In the coming budget round I have undertaken to put this road up as one of our main priorities. Main Roads has identified $40 million as the sum needed over the next 10 years. It is my view that some urgent work must be done. I made it clear to both Peter McKenzie and Kevin Forbes when they represented their various shires that I will put that highway on the government’s list of work that must be done.
(4) Will the minister give an assurance that funding for road widening and passing lanes on the highway will be provided in next year’s state budget? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for his question. I recognise and share his concern about Muirs Highway. Indeed, I have been on the road with Peter McKenzie when he was the Manjimup shire president. Last month I also met with Kevin Forbes from the Shire of Plantagenet to discuss the same road. It is a problem. We have to work our way through the enormous amount of unmet road need across the state. Although I do not think that $250 000 will do the job, it is certainly more than what was put in by the Court government. During the eight years of the Court government, less than $900 000 was allocated to that road. The National Party must look at the attention it gave Muirs Highway during its term in government. In the coming budget round I have undertaken to put this road up as one of our main priorities. Main Roads has identified $40 million as the sum needed over the next 10 years. It is my view that some urgent work must be done. I made it clear to both Peter McKenzie and Kevin Forbes when they represented their various shires that I will put that highway on the government’s list of work that must be done.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for his question. I recognise and share his concern about Muirs Highway. Indeed, I have been on the road with Peter McKenzie when he was the Manjimup shire president. Last month I also met with Kevin Forbes from the Shire of Plantagenet to discuss the same road. It is a problem. We have to work our way through the enormous amount of unmet road need across the state. Although I do not think that $250 000 will do the job, it is certainly more than what was put in by the Court government. During the eight years of the Court government, less than $900 000 was allocated to that road. The National Party must look at the attention it gave Muirs Highway during its term in government. In the coming budget round I have undertaken to put this road up as one of our main priorities. Main Roads has identified $40 million as the sum needed over the next 10 years. It is my view that some urgent work must be done. I made it clear to both Peter McKenzie and Kevin Forbes when they represented their various shires that I will put that highway on the government’s list of work that must be done.
(1)-(4) I thank the member for his question. I recognise and share his concern about Muirs Highway. Indeed, I have been on the road with Peter McKenzie when he was the Manjimup shire president. Last month I also met with Kevin Forbes from the Shire of Plantagenet to discuss the same road. It is a problem. We have to work our way through the enormous amount of unmet road need across the state. Although I do not think that $250 000 will do the job, it is certainly more than what was put in by the Court government. During the eight years of the Court government, less than $900 000 was allocated to that road. The National Party must look at the attention it gave Muirs Highway during its term in government. In the coming budget round I have undertaken to put this road up as one of our main priorities. Main Roads has identified $40 million as the sum needed over the next 10 years. It is my view that some urgent work must be done. I made it clear to both Peter McKenzie and Kevin Forbes when they represented their various shires that I will put that highway on the government’s list of work that must be done.
(1) Why was only $250 000 allocated in the 2005-06 state budget to upgrade this dangerous road when Main Roads WA has consistently reported that $40 million is needed to widen it to an eight-metre seal width with passing lanes? (2) Is the minister aware that the Rocky Gully action group has said that the town’s residents are becoming too frightened to travel on the highway? (3) Is the minister prepared to carry out a personal inspection of the highway between Mount Barker and Manjimup? (4) Will the minister give an assurance that funding for road widening and passing lanes on the highway will be provided in next year’s state budget? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for his question. I recognise and share his concern about Muirs Highway. Indeed, I have been on the road with Peter McKenzie when he was the Manjimup shire president. Last month I also met with Kevin Forbes from the Shire of Plantagenet to discuss the same road. It is a problem. We have to work our way through the enormous amount of unmet road need across the state. Although I do not think that $250 000 will do the job, it is certainly more than what was put in by the Court government. During the eight years of the Court government, less than $900 000 was allocated to that road. The National Party must look at the attention it gave Muirs Highway during its term in government. In the coming budget round I have undertaken to put this road up as one of our main priorities. Main Roads has identified $40 million as the sum needed over the next 10 years. It is my view that some urgent work must be done. I made it clear to both Peter McKenzie and Kevin Forbes when they represented their various shires that I will put that highway on the government’s list of work that must be done.
(2) Is the minister aware that the Rocky Gully action group has said that the town’s residents are becoming too frightened to travel on the highway? (3) Is the minister prepared to carry out a personal inspection of the highway between Mount Barker and Manjimup? (4) Will the minister give an assurance that funding for road widening and passing lanes on the highway will be provided in next year’s state budget? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for his question. I recognise and share his concern about Muirs Highway. Indeed, I have been on the road with Peter McKenzie when he was the Manjimup shire president. Last month I also met with Kevin Forbes from the Shire of Plantagenet to discuss the same road. It is a problem. We have to work our way through the enormous amount of unmet road need across the state. Although I do not think that $250 000 will do the job, it is certainly more than what was put in by the Court government. During the eight years of the Court government, less than $900 000 was allocated to that road. The National Party must look at the attention it gave Muirs Highway during its term in government. In the coming budget round I have undertaken to put this road up as one of our main priorities. Main Roads has identified $40 million as the sum needed over the next 10 years. It is my view that some urgent work must be done. I made it clear to both Peter McKenzie and Kevin Forbes when they represented their various shires that I will put that highway on the government’s list of work that must be done.
(3) Is the minister prepared to carry out a personal inspection of the highway between Mount Barker and Manjimup? (4) Will the minister give an assurance that funding for road widening and passing lanes on the highway will be provided in next year’s state budget? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for his question. I recognise and share his concern about Muirs Highway. Indeed, I have been on the road with Peter McKenzie when he was the Manjimup shire president. Last month I also met with Kevin Forbes from the Shire of Plantagenet to discuss the same road. It is a problem. We have to work our way through the enormous amount of unmet road need across the state. Although I do not think that $250 000 will do the job, it is certainly more than what was put in by the Court government. During the eight years of the Court government, less than $900 000 was allocated to that road. The National Party must look at the attention it gave Muirs Highway during its term in government. In the coming budget round I have undertaken to put this road up as one of our main priorities. Main Roads has identified $40 million as the sum needed over the next 10 years. It is my view that some urgent work must be done. I made it clear to both Peter McKenzie and Kevin Forbes when they represented their various shires that I will put that highway on the government’s list of work that must be done.
(4) Will the minister give an assurance that funding for road widening and passing lanes on the highway will be provided in next year’s state budget? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for his question. I recognise and share his concern about Muirs Highway. Indeed, I have been on the road with Peter McKenzie when he was the Manjimup shire president. Last month I also met with Kevin Forbes from the Shire of Plantagenet to discuss the same road. It is a problem. We have to work our way through the enormous amount of unmet road need across the state. Although I do not think that $250 000 will do the job, it is certainly more than what was put in by the Court government. During the eight years of the Court government, less than $900 000 was allocated to that road. The National Party must look at the attention it gave Muirs Highway during its term in government. In the coming budget round I have undertaken to put this road up as one of our main priorities. Main Roads has identified $40 million as the sum needed over the next 10 years. It is my view that some urgent work must be done. I made it clear to both Peter McKenzie and Kevin Forbes when they represented their various shires that I will put that highway on the government’s list of work that must be done.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for his question. I recognise and share his concern about Muirs Highway. Indeed, I have been on the road with Peter McKenzie when he was the Manjimup shire president. Last month I also met with Kevin Forbes from the Shire of Plantagenet to discuss the same road. It is a problem. We have to work our way through the enormous amount of unmet road need across the state. Although I do not think that $250 000 will do the job, it is certainly more than what was put in by the Court government. During the eight years of the Court government, less than $900 000 was allocated to that road. The National Party must look at the attention it gave Muirs Highway during its term in government. In the coming budget round I have undertaken to put this road up as one of our main priorities. Main Roads has identified $40 million as the sum needed over the next 10 years. It is my view that some urgent work must be done. I made it clear to both Peter McKenzie and Kevin Forbes when they represented their various shires that I will put that highway on the government’s list of work that must be done.
(1)-(4) I thank the member for his question. I recognise and share his concern about Muirs Highway. Indeed, I have been on the road with Peter McKenzie when he was the Manjimup shire president. Last month I also met with Kevin Forbes from the Shire of Plantagenet to discuss the same road. It is a problem. We have to work our way through the enormous amount of unmet road need across the state. Although I do not think that $250 000 will do the job, it is certainly more than what was put in by the Court government. During the eight years of the Court government, less than $900 000 was allocated to that road. The National Party must look at the attention it gave Muirs Highway during its term in government. In the coming budget round I have undertaken to put this road up as one of our main priorities. Main Roads has identified $40 million as the sum needed over the next 10 years. It is my view that some urgent work must be done. I made it clear to both Peter McKenzie and Kevin Forbes when they represented their various shires that I will put that highway on the government’s list of work that must be done.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.