❓ Question regarding the Matagarup Bridge construction, highlighting local workers and tourism benefits, contrasted with the previous government's plans. The Minister defends the project against criticism and emphasizes its tourism potential.
AnsweredQoN 974Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MATAGARUP BRIDGE
974. Mr
J.N. CAREY to the Minister for Transport:
My question is to the minister for
Transperth—I mean transport. I am spitting it out today!
The SPEAKER : Do you want to
start again, member for Perth?
Mr J.N. CAREY : Three days in
Parliament, and counting!
I refer to the state Labor
government's decision to ensure that Matagarup Bridge was built in Western
Australia by WA workers.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this decision has allowed the government to
pursue innovative opportunities that will provide a boost to tourism in the
city?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house about whether these opportunities would have been
possible under the previous Liberal government's Malaysian-built
bridge?
974. Mr
J.N. CAREY to the Minister for Transport:
My question is to the minister for
Transperth—I mean transport. I am spitting it out today!
The SPEAKER : Do you want to
start again, member for Perth?
Mr J.N. CAREY : Three days in
Parliament, and counting!
I refer to the state Labor
government's decision to ensure that Matagarup Bridge was built in Western
Australia by WA workers.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this decision has allowed the government to
pursue innovative opportunities that will provide a boost to tourism in the
city?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house about whether these opportunities would have been
possible under the previous Liberal government's Malaysian-built
bridge?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Perth for that fantastic question and for his enthusiasm
and optimism about WA and about tourism in WA. Is it not good to have a member
of Parliament who is so optimistic about the future of tourism in WA?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for South
Perth!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Of course I was
there on Sunday with the member for Perth looking and releasing the next set of
opportunities for this bridge. The member's question outlined: what
would be those opportunities if the previous government had had its way? First,
it never would have turned up. The bridge would never have turned up because
they had no line of sight, as articulated by John Langoulant in his review.
That project had no line of sight. Although the member for Scarborough thinks that
there is a whole bridge lying around somewhere in Malaysia, we know that that
is not the case. We got local manufacturers involved, making sure they built a locally
built bridge. The second point —
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Darling
Range, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I thought it
was the member for Vasse.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Minister, can you just carry on? No more interjections, please, especially from
the member for South Perth.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The other key
decision of course was to remove the cladding—so the cladding design.
They had designed a bridge that would be wrapped up in material. That meant the
lighting display would not have been as strong and it would have meant that the
opportunity —
Mr J.E. McGrath : It would
have been stronger; it would not have fallen down!
The
SPEAKER : Member for South Perth,
you are looking close to falling down. I call you to order for the first time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It would have
meant that the —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : I was on my
feet, member for Girrawheen, so I call you to order for the first time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Honestly, why
can the member for Vasse not even be positive about the bridge? It is a great
tourism outcome from something that was initially designed to be a tourism
outcome.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : It is too
close to the sky!
The SPEAKER : Treasurer, there
is one person on their feet and it is on your side of the house.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : But thanks
for that.
Why would anyone not be positive
about the massive tourism opportunities we created through the redesign? I know
it is called Matagarup Bridge, not Perth bridge.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, if it was funny
we would laugh, but it wasn't.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : The Leader of the
Opposition is now ridiculing the bridge as he ridiculed the WA workers who built it, and as he ridicules everything that this government does. I am proud
of the bridge. I am proud of the name.
Mr V.A. Catania : What about
the stadium?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I am proud of
the bridge. I am proud of Optus Stadium. I know we called it Matagarup Bridge
and that might confuse people. Maybe we should have just called it Perth
bridge; otherwise, everyone would have been confused about where it was! It was
announced —
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It is an
outstanding bridge. I know the member for Scarborough said it is not finished.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time. I have given you leeway today,
and you have just abused it.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I think the
member for Carine is a bit upset because it is such a good initiative for
Perth, and it has been advocated by the member for Perth, who is the one person
in WA who has strongly supported the Perth CBD
and the Perth community over many, many years. I know that offends the member
for Carine. I know it offends the
friends he hangs out with. The member for Perth is a member who is passionate
about Perth. It is a great outcome. I am so excited about the tourism
potential. It is something all Western Australians should be proud of.
thank the member for Perth for that fantastic question and for his enthusiasm
and optimism about WA and about tourism in WA. Is it not good to have a member
of Parliament who is so optimistic about the future of tourism in WA?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for South
Perth!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Of course I was
there on Sunday with the member for Perth looking and releasing the next set of
opportunities for this bridge. The member's question outlined: what
would be those opportunities if the previous government had had its way? First,
it never would have turned up. The bridge would never have turned up because
they had no line of sight, as articulated by John Langoulant in his review.
That project had no line of sight. Although the member for Scarborough thinks that
there is a whole bridge lying around somewhere in Malaysia, we know that that
is not the case. We got local manufacturers involved, making sure they built a locally
built bridge. The second point —
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Darling
Range, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I thought it
was the member for Vasse.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Minister, can you just carry on? No more interjections, please, especially from
the member for South Perth.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The other key
decision of course was to remove the cladding—so the cladding design.
They had designed a bridge that would be wrapped up in material. That meant the
lighting display would not have been as strong and it would have meant that the
opportunity —
Mr J.E. McGrath : It would
have been stronger; it would not have fallen down!
The
SPEAKER : Member for South Perth,
you are looking close to falling down. I call you to order for the first time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It would have
meant that the —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : I was on my
feet, member for Girrawheen, so I call you to order for the first time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Honestly, why
can the member for Vasse not even be positive about the bridge? It is a great
tourism outcome from something that was initially designed to be a tourism
outcome.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : It is too
close to the sky!
The SPEAKER : Treasurer, there
is one person on their feet and it is on your side of the house.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : But thanks
for that.
Why would anyone not be positive
about the massive tourism opportunities we created through the redesign? I know
it is called Matagarup Bridge, not Perth bridge.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, if it was funny
we would laugh, but it wasn't.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : The Leader of the
Opposition is now ridiculing the bridge as he ridiculed the WA workers who built it, and as he ridicules everything that this government does. I am proud
of the bridge. I am proud of the name.
Mr V.A. Catania : What about
the stadium?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I am proud of
the bridge. I am proud of Optus Stadium. I know we called it Matagarup Bridge
and that might confuse people. Maybe we should have just called it Perth
bridge; otherwise, everyone would have been confused about where it was! It was
announced —
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It is an
outstanding bridge. I know the member for Scarborough said it is not finished.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time. I have given you leeway today,
and you have just abused it.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I think the
member for Carine is a bit upset because it is such a good initiative for
Perth, and it has been advocated by the member for Perth, who is the one person
in WA who has strongly supported the Perth CBD
and the Perth community over many, many years. I know that offends the member
for Carine. I know it offends the
friends he hangs out with. The member for Perth is a member who is passionate
about Perth. It is a great outcome. I am so excited about the tourism
potential. It is something all Western Australians should be proud of.
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