❓ Question addresses the delay in the Butler railway station construction and its impact on freeway congestion. The Minister deflects, highlighting the ALP's unfulfilled promise and outlining the Liberal Party's long-term planning approach.
AnsweredQoN 6Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BUTLER RAILWAY STATION AND FREEWAY CONGESTION 6. Hon KEN TRAVERS to the Minister for Transport: (1) Did the minister receive any advice or briefings from any government agencies or departments before he announced that the government would not immediately commence construction of the Butler railway station; and, if yes, what was that advice? (2) Is the minister aware of the increased congestion that will occur on the Mitchell Freeway if construction is not commenced immediately? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for his question. It is not unusual for members in opposition to stand up in the early days of a new Parliament and demand to know from the government when it is going to introduce measures to implement election promises. What is extraordinary in the actions and the comments recently of the honourable member is that he is demanding to know when the Liberal government is going to introduce ALP election promises. That is not how the system works! Hon Ken Travers : It is the honourable member’s first question as a minister and he is not answering it! The PRESIDENT : If Hon Ken Travers wants the call again, he should listen to the answer that is being given. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
BUTLER RAILWAY STATION AND FREEWAY CONGESTION
(1) Did the minister receive any advice or briefings from any government agencies or departments before he announced that the government would not immediately commence construction of the Butler railway station; and, if yes, what was that advice? (2) Is the minister aware of the increased congestion that will occur on the Mitchell Freeway if construction is not commenced immediately? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for his question. It is not unusual for members in opposition to stand up in the early days of a new Parliament and demand to know from the government when it is going to introduce measures to implement election promises. What is extraordinary in the actions and the comments recently of the honourable member is that he is demanding to know when the Liberal government is going to introduce ALP election promises. That is not how the system works! Hon Ken Travers : It is the honourable member’s first question as a minister and he is not answering it! The PRESIDENT : If Hon Ken Travers wants the call again, he should listen to the answer that is being given. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
(2) Is the minister aware of the increased congestion that will occur on the Mitchell Freeway if construction is not commenced immediately? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for his question. It is not unusual for members in opposition to stand up in the early days of a new Parliament and demand to know from the government when it is going to introduce measures to implement election promises. What is extraordinary in the actions and the comments recently of the honourable member is that he is demanding to know when the Liberal government is going to introduce ALP election promises. That is not how the system works! Hon Ken Travers : It is the honourable member’s first question as a minister and he is not answering it! The PRESIDENT : If Hon Ken Travers wants the call again, he should listen to the answer that is being given. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for his question. It is not unusual for members in opposition to stand up in the early days of a new Parliament and demand to know from the government when it is going to introduce measures to implement election promises. What is extraordinary in the actions and the comments recently of the honourable member is that he is demanding to know when the Liberal government is going to introduce ALP election promises. That is not how the system works! Hon Ken Travers : It is the honourable member’s first question as a minister and he is not answering it! The PRESIDENT : If Hon Ken Travers wants the call again, he should listen to the answer that is being given. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
(1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for his question. It is not unusual for members in opposition to stand up in the early days of a new Parliament and demand to know from the government when it is going to introduce measures to implement election promises. What is extraordinary in the actions and the comments recently of the honourable member is that he is demanding to know when the Liberal government is going to introduce ALP election promises. That is not how the system works! Hon Ken Travers : It is the honourable member’s first question as a minister and he is not answering it! The PRESIDENT : If Hon Ken Travers wants the call again, he should listen to the answer that is being given. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
Hon Ken Travers : It is the honourable member’s first question as a minister and he is not answering it! The PRESIDENT : If Hon Ken Travers wants the call again, he should listen to the answer that is being given. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
The PRESIDENT : If Hon Ken Travers wants the call again, he should listen to the answer that is being given. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
BUTLER RAILWAY STATION AND FREEWAY CONGESTION
(1) Did the minister receive any advice or briefings from any government agencies or departments before he announced that the government would not immediately commence construction of the Butler railway station; and, if yes, what was that advice? (2) Is the minister aware of the increased congestion that will occur on the Mitchell Freeway if construction is not commenced immediately? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for his question. It is not unusual for members in opposition to stand up in the early days of a new Parliament and demand to know from the government when it is going to introduce measures to implement election promises. What is extraordinary in the actions and the comments recently of the honourable member is that he is demanding to know when the Liberal government is going to introduce ALP election promises. That is not how the system works! Hon Ken Travers : It is the honourable member’s first question as a minister and he is not answering it! The PRESIDENT : If Hon Ken Travers wants the call again, he should listen to the answer that is being given. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
(2) Is the minister aware of the increased congestion that will occur on the Mitchell Freeway if construction is not commenced immediately? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for his question. It is not unusual for members in opposition to stand up in the early days of a new Parliament and demand to know from the government when it is going to introduce measures to implement election promises. What is extraordinary in the actions and the comments recently of the honourable member is that he is demanding to know when the Liberal government is going to introduce ALP election promises. That is not how the system works! Hon Ken Travers : It is the honourable member’s first question as a minister and he is not answering it! The PRESIDENT : If Hon Ken Travers wants the call again, he should listen to the answer that is being given. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for his question. It is not unusual for members in opposition to stand up in the early days of a new Parliament and demand to know from the government when it is going to introduce measures to implement election promises. What is extraordinary in the actions and the comments recently of the honourable member is that he is demanding to know when the Liberal government is going to introduce ALP election promises. That is not how the system works! Hon Ken Travers : It is the honourable member’s first question as a minister and he is not answering it! The PRESIDENT : If Hon Ken Travers wants the call again, he should listen to the answer that is being given. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
(1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for his question. It is not unusual for members in opposition to stand up in the early days of a new Parliament and demand to know from the government when it is going to introduce measures to implement election promises. What is extraordinary in the actions and the comments recently of the honourable member is that he is demanding to know when the Liberal government is going to introduce ALP election promises. That is not how the system works! Hon Ken Travers : It is the honourable member’s first question as a minister and he is not answering it! The PRESIDENT : If Hon Ken Travers wants the call again, he should listen to the answer that is being given. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
Hon Ken Travers : It is the honourable member’s first question as a minister and he is not answering it! The PRESIDENT : If Hon Ken Travers wants the call again, he should listen to the answer that is being given. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
The PRESIDENT : If Hon Ken Travers wants the call again, he should listen to the answer that is being given. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN : In the context of the question—which has not been provided in writing—about the future extension of the railway line from Clarkson to Butler in the northern suburbs, the Liberal Party undertook, during the course of the election, to commence a detailed planning process to create a 20-year master plan for an integrated public transport system to guarantee Perth’s future. That is it; no more, no less. The idea that we have somehow let down the people of the northern suburbs is an invention by my friend and other members on the other side of the house. I have received information in pursuit of that plan and I will be making some more announcements in due course. The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
The fact remains that the Australian Labor Party announced a policy to build a railway extension during the course of the last election. They had the opportunity to do so before they called the election. They also had the opportunity to place funds in the forward estimates to make it a funded promise in their most recent budget which, of course, commenced on 1 July this year. They chose not to do that. It was an unfunded promise and it remains an ALP promise, and the member is kidding himself if he thinks he can beat it up into anything more than that.
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