❓ A parliamentary question regarding Infrastructure Australia's assessment of the Thornlie-Cockburn Link and Yanchep extension Metronet projects. The Minister's answer highlights positive assessments and defends the projects against opposition criticism.
AnsweredQoN 934Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METRONET —
INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA — ASSESSMENT
934. Mr Y. MUBARAKAI to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to delivering Metronet, which will create
hundreds of jobs and support growth across the suburbs.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on what Infrastructure Australia's assessment
of both the Thornlie–Cockburn Link and the Yanchep extension means for
these projects?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house what Infrastructure Australia said about the benefits
of Metronet and how it will deliver for all Western Australians, particularly
in my electorate of Jandakot?
INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA — ASSESSMENT
934. Mr Y. MUBARAKAI to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to delivering Metronet, which will create
hundreds of jobs and support growth across the suburbs.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on what Infrastructure Australia's assessment
of both the Thornlie–Cockburn Link and the Yanchep extension means for
these projects?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house what Infrastructure Australia said about the benefits
of Metronet and how it will deliver for all Western Australians, particularly
in my electorate of Jandakot?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Jandakot for the question. Last week the state government
received some really positive news from Infrastructure Australia. It has given
the green light to the two Metronet proposals that we submitted, so both the
Yanchep extension —
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine! You do not have to have a comment on everything.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Both the
Thornlie–Cockburn Link and the Yanchep extension were assessed as
projects that can go ahead under the Infrastructure Australia framework. They
both have positive benefit–cost ratios from both a transport analysis
and a wider economic development analysis. As the acting chief executive of
Infrastructure Australia stated on 6PR last week —
�
we put both business cases through our rigorous assessment process and we're
delighted to announce that the Metronet Yanchep rail extension has been
recognised on our Infrastructure Priority List as a high-priority project. And
the Thornlie–Cockburn Link has been recognised as a priority project on
our list.
Both projects have been given that
nod. We know that for people in the suburbs this means better connections to
education opportunities and better connections to jobs. It is making sure that
we continually connect our suburbs and do not allow suburbs to be left without
strong public transport links. It is about making sure we have a good standard
of living and great liveability for everyone in the community. We know those
opposite do not support these projects. We know those opposite —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : — do
not support the projects.
Mr D.C. Nalder : It was in the
transport plan.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for Bateman said it was in the transport plan. This is what the member for
Churchlands said only this year —
Members
opposite are only interested in creating narcissistic, grandiose monuments
under their own name.
�
It may well leave this state with a white
elephant transport system that will simply not be sustainable into the future �
That is how the member for
Churchlands described Metronet —
Mr S.K. L'Estrange :
Tell us how you're going to pay for it.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Look in the
budget. Go and check the budget.
Several members interjected.
Mr S.K. L'Estrange : Where is it? You didn't
put it in it. You show us.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : If the member
for Churchlands cannot read a budget, maybe he should not be sitting there. The
member for Bateman said that the Metronet strategy appears to be chasing urban
sprawl. Today he is saying it was the previous government's transport
plan, and only a few months ago, it was chasing urban sprawl. Of course, the
member for Scarborough said that the Yanchep project would not stack up. Can
the member for Butler believe that?
Mr S.K. L'Estrange interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands!
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : Some of these
projects start to stack up in a cost–benefit ratio only once a certain
population level has been reached. Members opposite said that they did not
commit to Yanchep and they do not believe Yanchep was worthwhile.
Infrastructure Australia has a different view. Thank goodness for a rigorous
cost–benefit —
Mr S.K. L'Estrange interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands! That is your third warning. I will call you the next time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : What was the
BCR for that —
The SPEAKER : No; do not ask
questions—through the Chair.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Maybe the
member for Churchlands can stand up and give us the BCR for the project his
government went under contract for.
Mr D.C. Nalder : It's
2.6.
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : What? Are you
sure? Infrastructure Australia assessed the project and the member for Bateman
signed the contract?
The SPEAKER : Minister,
through the Chair.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister,
through the Chair, please.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for Bateman, basically, acknowledged that Infrastructure Australia did not
develop a BCR or assessment for the project that his government went under
contract for. That is the case.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : We support
Metronet, we support people living in the suburbs and we support true
connections for everyone living across the metropolitan area and regional WA.
thank the member for Jandakot for the question. Last week the state government
received some really positive news from Infrastructure Australia. It has given
the green light to the two Metronet proposals that we submitted, so both the
Yanchep extension —
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine! You do not have to have a comment on everything.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Both the
Thornlie–Cockburn Link and the Yanchep extension were assessed as
projects that can go ahead under the Infrastructure Australia framework. They
both have positive benefit–cost ratios from both a transport analysis
and a wider economic development analysis. As the acting chief executive of
Infrastructure Australia stated on 6PR last week —
�
we put both business cases through our rigorous assessment process and we're
delighted to announce that the Metronet Yanchep rail extension has been
recognised on our Infrastructure Priority List as a high-priority project. And
the Thornlie–Cockburn Link has been recognised as a priority project on
our list.
Both projects have been given that
nod. We know that for people in the suburbs this means better connections to
education opportunities and better connections to jobs. It is making sure that
we continually connect our suburbs and do not allow suburbs to be left without
strong public transport links. It is about making sure we have a good standard
of living and great liveability for everyone in the community. We know those
opposite do not support these projects. We know those opposite —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : — do
not support the projects.
Mr D.C. Nalder : It was in the
transport plan.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for Bateman said it was in the transport plan. This is what the member for
Churchlands said only this year —
Members
opposite are only interested in creating narcissistic, grandiose monuments
under their own name.
�
It may well leave this state with a white
elephant transport system that will simply not be sustainable into the future �
That is how the member for
Churchlands described Metronet —
Mr S.K. L'Estrange :
Tell us how you're going to pay for it.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Look in the
budget. Go and check the budget.
Several members interjected.
Mr S.K. L'Estrange : Where is it? You didn't
put it in it. You show us.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : If the member
for Churchlands cannot read a budget, maybe he should not be sitting there. The
member for Bateman said that the Metronet strategy appears to be chasing urban
sprawl. Today he is saying it was the previous government's transport
plan, and only a few months ago, it was chasing urban sprawl. Of course, the
member for Scarborough said that the Yanchep project would not stack up. Can
the member for Butler believe that?
Mr S.K. L'Estrange interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands!
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : Some of these
projects start to stack up in a cost–benefit ratio only once a certain
population level has been reached. Members opposite said that they did not
commit to Yanchep and they do not believe Yanchep was worthwhile.
Infrastructure Australia has a different view. Thank goodness for a rigorous
cost–benefit —
Mr S.K. L'Estrange interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands! That is your third warning. I will call you the next time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : What was the
BCR for that —
The SPEAKER : No; do not ask
questions—through the Chair.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Maybe the
member for Churchlands can stand up and give us the BCR for the project his
government went under contract for.
Mr D.C. Nalder : It's
2.6.
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : What? Are you
sure? Infrastructure Australia assessed the project and the member for Bateman
signed the contract?
The SPEAKER : Minister,
through the Chair.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister,
through the Chair, please.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for Bateman, basically, acknowledged that Infrastructure Australia did not
develop a BCR or assessment for the project that his government went under
contract for. That is the case.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : We support
Metronet, we support people living in the suburbs and we support true
connections for everyone living across the metropolitan area and regional WA.
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