❓ Dr. Walker questions the Transport Minister regarding the resilience of east-west rail freight after flooding in South Australia caused supply shortages in WA. The government outlines actions taken to mitigate disruptions and enhance rail capacity.
AnsweredQoN 117Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
East–west rail freight—Resilience
117. Hon Dr Brian Walker to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Transport:
I refer the minister to the closure for the third time
in five years of the east–west rail line after significant flooding in
South Australia, leading to visibly dwindling supplies on supermarket shelves
across Western Australia, and to news that some regional petrol stations were,
as of yesterday, rationing fuel. I note the two distinct causes of these
shortages.
(1) What is the Cook Labor government
doing to ensure that essential supplies are reaching our supermarket shelves?
(2) What steps have been taken to secure
our fuel supplies here on the west coast, in the face of east coast assertions
from federal Labor's Chris Bowen that there is plenty of fuel to go around?
117. Hon Dr Brian Walker to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Transport:
I refer the minister to the closure for the third time
in five years of the east–west rail line after significant flooding in
South Australia, leading to visibly dwindling supplies on supermarket shelves
across Western Australia, and to news that some regional petrol stations were,
as of yesterday, rationing fuel. I note the two distinct causes of these
shortages.
(1) What is the Cook Labor government
doing to ensure that essential supplies are reaching our supermarket shelves?
(2) What steps have been taken to secure
our fuel supplies here on the west coast, in the face of east coast assertions
from federal Labor's Chris Bowen that there is plenty of fuel to go around?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. I provide the answer on
behalf of the Minister for Transport.
(1) The state government remains in
ongoing contact with the Australian Rail Track Corporation and the major
grocery chains. Overall, the system is holding up well at present. ARTC has
been working closely with freight operators and terminal operators across the
network to enhance rail capacity and increase the rail transfer of freight
volumes from Sydney to Melbourne for on-transport to WA. Woolworths and SCT
Logistics have both recently increased the capacity of their WA facilities to
ensure there is greater resilience in the event of supply disruptions. ARTC is investing
significantly in the east–west corridor as part of its $1 billion network
investment program, undertaking works to improve flood resistance and replacing
rails to allow longer trains.
(2) I refer the member to the response
provided by the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation to question without
notice 85.
honourable member for some notice of the question. I provide the answer on
behalf of the Minister for Transport.
(1) The state government remains in
ongoing contact with the Australian Rail Track Corporation and the major
grocery chains. Overall, the system is holding up well at present. ARTC has
been working closely with freight operators and terminal operators across the
network to enhance rail capacity and increase the rail transfer of freight
volumes from Sydney to Melbourne for on-transport to WA. Woolworths and SCT
Logistics have both recently increased the capacity of their WA facilities to
ensure there is greater resilience in the event of supply disruptions. ARTC is investing
significantly in the east–west corridor as part of its $1 billion network
investment program, undertaking works to improve flood resistance and replacing
rails to allow longer trains.
(2) I refer the member to the response
provided by the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation to question without
notice 85.
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