❓ Opposition MP Rita Saffioti questions Premier Colin Barnett on his government's commitment to the Perth-Darwin Highway project, specifically regarding funding and the extent of the project. The Premier defends his government's position, clarifying the scope and funding of the initial stage.
AnsweredQoN 126Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH–DARWIN
HIGHWAY — ELECTION COMMITMENT
126. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's election commitment to build
a Swan Valley bypass, also known as the Perth–Darwin highway, and
contrast this to the Premier's election commitment with his claims made
yesterday and today that he did not commit to the entire 37-kilometre project.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI :
The Premier said he would stop it at Gnangara Road.
(1) Can the
Premier confirm his media statement made on 26 February this year that clearly
states that the new highway will link directly with Tonkin Highway and not stop
at Gnangara Road, as he now claims?
(2) Does the
Premier understand that his new plan will increase traffic through the valley
and leading into Ellenbrook and not decrease traffic in that area?
(3) Did the
Premier's government apply for the $400 million for this project from
the commonwealth; and, if so, why will it now not accept the funding to build
this project?
HIGHWAY — ELECTION COMMITMENT
126. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's election commitment to build
a Swan Valley bypass, also known as the Perth–Darwin highway, and
contrast this to the Premier's election commitment with his claims made
yesterday and today that he did not commit to the entire 37-kilometre project.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI :
The Premier said he would stop it at Gnangara Road.
(1) Can the
Premier confirm his media statement made on 26 February this year that clearly
states that the new highway will link directly with Tonkin Highway and not stop
at Gnangara Road, as he now claims?
(2) Does the
Premier understand that his new plan will increase traffic through the valley
and leading into Ellenbrook and not decrease traffic in that area?
(3) Did the
Premier's government apply for the $400 million for this project from
the commonwealth; and, if so, why will it now not accept the funding to build
this project?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
The member opposite claimed to quote from me. That was not a quote; she made it
up. I do not like it when people make up things; this member does it. With
respect to the Perth–Darwin highway, or the Swan Valley bypass as it
seems to be now called—it is probably a better description of it—during
the state campaign, we committed to that project, and we said that the first
section to be built —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
You didn't come to my press conference, did you, sweetie, so you missed
out.
Several members interjected.
Withdrawal of Remark
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I
ask the Premier to withdraw that highly sexist comment.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first
time. I cannot hear myself speak, member for Wanneroo.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : Further to that point of order, it is written in the
standing orders of this house that members of Parliament are to be referred to
by their electorate name. The Premier knows that, and the derogatory way in
which he spoke to the member for Girrawheen is unparliamentary. I ask that he
withdraw with respect to that comment he made.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, if the member has taken offence, I apologise.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Do you want me to withdraw?
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
Apologise!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
just did.
The
SPEAKER : From what I understand, the Premier has withdrawn that
comment and apologised; let us move on.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
apologise and I withdraw the term, Mr Speaker. I cannot think of a substitute
term.
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
No wonder the Premier has hardly any women in the Liberal Party.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
For goodness sake!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Order, members!
Debate Resumed
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
To get back to the issue, during the election campaign, the Liberal Party
announced a commitment to construct the Perth to Darwin project—the
Swan Valley bypass. At the press conference held in the valley, as trucks went
past one after the other, and with probably 20 journalists there, I said that
the project would start with the construction of the section from Gnangara Road
through to Muchea, which is estimated to cost $196 million, and that is our
commitment. The implication clearly is that the project will continue to be
honoured.
Ms R. Saffioti :
Implied?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Not implied—we said we will fund the first section of that project,
which will have immediate practical use by connecting Gnangara Road to Muchea.
That project will also release a corridor of new land for residential
development, which is very important and why we are building that section. The
remainder of the project is a series of interchanges that are of no real value
until the lot of them are done.
Ms R. Saffioti :
The Premier is kidding! Seriously, those interchanges are very important —
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, I would not kid you. I cannot recall the Labor Party making any such
commitment. In its budget, the Liberal–National government will
allocate the funds for the construction of the section from Gnangara Road
through to Muchea, which will be the first section of the Perth–Darwin
bypass. I am pleased that the commonwealth government indicated that it would
provide funding of around $400 million, and then add the proviso ''if it
is matched''. We already have $200 million on the table to start the
project.
The member opposite claimed to quote from me. That was not a quote; she made it
up. I do not like it when people make up things; this member does it. With
respect to the Perth–Darwin highway, or the Swan Valley bypass as it
seems to be now called—it is probably a better description of it—during
the state campaign, we committed to that project, and we said that the first
section to be built —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
You didn't come to my press conference, did you, sweetie, so you missed
out.
Several members interjected.
Withdrawal of Remark
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I
ask the Premier to withdraw that highly sexist comment.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first
time. I cannot hear myself speak, member for Wanneroo.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : Further to that point of order, it is written in the
standing orders of this house that members of Parliament are to be referred to
by their electorate name. The Premier knows that, and the derogatory way in
which he spoke to the member for Girrawheen is unparliamentary. I ask that he
withdraw with respect to that comment he made.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, if the member has taken offence, I apologise.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Do you want me to withdraw?
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
Apologise!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
just did.
The
SPEAKER : From what I understand, the Premier has withdrawn that
comment and apologised; let us move on.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
apologise and I withdraw the term, Mr Speaker. I cannot think of a substitute
term.
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
No wonder the Premier has hardly any women in the Liberal Party.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
For goodness sake!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Order, members!
Debate Resumed
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
To get back to the issue, during the election campaign, the Liberal Party
announced a commitment to construct the Perth to Darwin project—the
Swan Valley bypass. At the press conference held in the valley, as trucks went
past one after the other, and with probably 20 journalists there, I said that
the project would start with the construction of the section from Gnangara Road
through to Muchea, which is estimated to cost $196 million, and that is our
commitment. The implication clearly is that the project will continue to be
honoured.
Ms R. Saffioti :
Implied?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Not implied—we said we will fund the first section of that project,
which will have immediate practical use by connecting Gnangara Road to Muchea.
That project will also release a corridor of new land for residential
development, which is very important and why we are building that section. The
remainder of the project is a series of interchanges that are of no real value
until the lot of them are done.
Ms R. Saffioti :
The Premier is kidding! Seriously, those interchanges are very important —
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, I would not kid you. I cannot recall the Labor Party making any such
commitment. In its budget, the Liberal–National government will
allocate the funds for the construction of the section from Gnangara Road
through to Muchea, which will be the first section of the Perth–Darwin
bypass. I am pleased that the commonwealth government indicated that it would
provide funding of around $400 million, and then add the proviso ''if it
is matched''. We already have $200 million on the table to start the
project.
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