❓ McGowan questions the Treasurer on the cost of cancelling the MAX light rail project and the link between transport funding and the sale of Western Power. The Treasurer deflects the cost question and defends the government's asset recycling strategy.
AnsweredQoN 412Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METRO AREA
EXPRESS LIGHT RAIL
412. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Treasurer:
I have a supplementary question. I ask again: what is the
additional cost to MAX to justify breaking the government's promise, as
the Treasurer indicated this morning; and, secondly, if the Treasurer did not
say that the transport plan was contingent upon Western Power's sale,
why are there transcripts out there of him saying this morning that we will
commit to certain projects but those projects will be contingent on achieving
the Western Power sale?
EXPRESS LIGHT RAIL
412. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Treasurer:
I have a supplementary question. I ask again: what is the
additional cost to MAX to justify breaking the government's promise, as
the Treasurer indicated this morning; and, secondly, if the Treasurer did not
say that the transport plan was contingent upon Western Power's sale,
why are there transcripts out there of him saying this morning that we will
commit to certain projects but those projects will be contingent on achieving
the Western Power sale?
AnswerView source ↗
There are two different things. First, if the member wants to
know the cost of MAX light rail going forward, he should ask the Minister for
Transport.
Mr M. McGowan : You
are the Treasurer!
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I know
that. I am aware of that.
Mr M. McGowan :
What's apparent is you make it up as you go along.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Yes—a
professional fabricator!
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Through the Chair! You have dealt with that; now the second part.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Again,
I go back to the fact that we have a massive transport plan costed and funded in the budget—$7 billion.
Some of that will be included, no doubt, in the long-term plan from 2016 to
2050 in the budget. Some of it is already funded; it is already committed to.
Going forward, as I indicated, we will be able to spend more on capital works,
whether it is transport or others, but any government in the future, including
a Labor government, will not be able to fund the future capital needs of Western
Australia just out of more debt. That is the big challenge the future
government faces. We have one
solution we are pursuing—that
is, the long‑term lease of Western Power. Any government that does not
recycle assets will not be able to undertake the capital needs of this state.
know the cost of MAX light rail going forward, he should ask the Minister for
Transport.
Mr M. McGowan : You
are the Treasurer!
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I know
that. I am aware of that.
Mr M. McGowan :
What's apparent is you make it up as you go along.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Yes—a
professional fabricator!
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Through the Chair! You have dealt with that; now the second part.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Again,
I go back to the fact that we have a massive transport plan costed and funded in the budget—$7 billion.
Some of that will be included, no doubt, in the long-term plan from 2016 to
2050 in the budget. Some of it is already funded; it is already committed to.
Going forward, as I indicated, we will be able to spend more on capital works,
whether it is transport or others, but any government in the future, including
a Labor government, will not be able to fund the future capital needs of Western
Australia just out of more debt. That is the big challenge the future
government faces. We have one
solution we are pursuing—that
is, the long‑term lease of Western Power. Any government that does not
recycle assets will not be able to undertake the capital needs of this state.
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