❓ Question regarding the McGowan government's investment in the Leach Highway-Welshpool Road intersection upgrade, focusing on congestion, safety, jobs, and comparison to the previous government's record. The Minister's answer is highly political, attacking the opposition's infrastructure record.
AnsweredQoN 226Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LEACH HIGHWAY–WELSHPOOL ROAD INTERSECTION
226. Ms H.M. BEAZLEY to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment in road infrastructure across Western Australia,
including upgrades to fix WA's most dangerous intersection, Leach
Highway–Welshpool Road.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this project will improve congestion and
safety in the area as well as support local jobs and local businesses?
(2) Can the minister advise the house how this
government's unprecedented infrastructure investment compares with the record of the Liberals and Nationals?
226. Ms H.M. BEAZLEY to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment in road infrastructure across Western Australia,
including upgrades to fix WA's most dangerous intersection, Leach
Highway–Welshpool Road.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this project will improve congestion and
safety in the area as well as support local jobs and local businesses?
(2) Can the minister advise the house how this
government's unprecedented infrastructure investment compares with the record of the Liberals and Nationals?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
member for Victoria Park for that question.
Mr W.J.
Johnston : It is a great question!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI :
It is a great question.
(1)–(2) Of
course, the member for Victoria Park accompanied me earlier this week to turn
the sod on the new Leach Highway–Welshpool
Road interchange. This is a very significant project. The member for Cannington could not come because of a diary clash, but I know he is also very keen to see
this project delivered.
This is rated the most dangerous
intersection across our network. It is also the second-most congested
intersection across the network, with the first being Tonkin Highway–Welshpool
Road. Work will also be undertaken on that project. Again, local Western Australian
companies will be delivering this project. This is all about improving safety
and reducing congestion, with local employment and local artwork. We unveiled
some beautiful artwork at that site, and people will see that if they drive
past that intersection. We again apologise for any inconvenience and for the
disruption. This intersection is very busy and this project will cause disruption and inconvenience, but that is what
happens when real projects are built. The members opposite, or the members in the corner, did not cause much
disruption, because they did not deliver anything. For example, the
Metro Area Express light rail project did not cause any disruption, because
they never delivered it! Under them, the Thornlie–Cockburn Link did not
cause any disruption, because they never delivered it! Do members know what
else did not deliver any disruption? The Ellenbrook rail line did not deliver
any disruption because they broke their promises twice.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I am glad the
member for Vasse interjected, because she was a key person during the election
campaign as the deputy.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : So the member
admits that she was the key person during the election campaign. She is running
away from it now! She was a key person in the election campaign. Remember, I think
a dozen times, Liberal Party members
promised Roe 8 and 9 again. They said, ''In the first 100 days, we are
going to commence Roe 8 and Roe 9.''
Dr A.D. Buti : Honk, honk!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Remember ''Honk
for Roe 8 Day''!
Again,
to show the dysfunctionality between the member for Vasse and the member for
Cottesloe, there was one person saying the project would be started
within the first 100 days and what happened on that dreaded costings day? On
their costings day, how much funding did the Liberal Party earmark for four
years for such an important project? How much funding of the $2 billion of this
project did the Liberal Party earmark on its costings day to deliver this
project? It was $100 million. The Liberal Party could not deliver projects in
government, and it could not even cost them and fund them properly during an
election campaign.
There
is the Welshpool Road–Leach Highway intersection. Again, we apologise
for the inconvenience and the disruption, but that is what happens when
real projects are delivered, unlike the corner there, which when in government —
Mr W.J. Johnston : The forward
pocket!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The forward
pocket!
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The back
pocket!
Ms L. Mettam : The Ellenbrook
rail, when will that happen?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Does the
member for Vasse really want to talk about Ellenbrook rail?
Ms L. Mettam : Yes!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Does she
really want to talk about Ellenbrook rail? Okay, let us look at that. Can I suspend
standing orders to talk about Ellenbrook rail? I do not think the Premier will
let me!
The SPEAKER : Minister, I just
remind you that the question was from the member for Victoria Park. I suggest
to the member for Vasse that if she would like to get to further opposition
questions, it is probably best not to continue to interject on the minister.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : We are out
there delivering real projects compared with the opposition, or the corner,
which delivered phantom projects.
The SPEAKER : The Leader of
the Liberal Party.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members.
member for Victoria Park for that question.
Mr W.J.
Johnston : It is a great question!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI :
It is a great question.
(1)–(2) Of
course, the member for Victoria Park accompanied me earlier this week to turn
the sod on the new Leach Highway–Welshpool
Road interchange. This is a very significant project. The member for Cannington could not come because of a diary clash, but I know he is also very keen to see
this project delivered.
This is rated the most dangerous
intersection across our network. It is also the second-most congested
intersection across the network, with the first being Tonkin Highway–Welshpool
Road. Work will also be undertaken on that project. Again, local Western Australian
companies will be delivering this project. This is all about improving safety
and reducing congestion, with local employment and local artwork. We unveiled
some beautiful artwork at that site, and people will see that if they drive
past that intersection. We again apologise for any inconvenience and for the
disruption. This intersection is very busy and this project will cause disruption and inconvenience, but that is what
happens when real projects are built. The members opposite, or the members in the corner, did not cause much
disruption, because they did not deliver anything. For example, the
Metro Area Express light rail project did not cause any disruption, because
they never delivered it! Under them, the Thornlie–Cockburn Link did not
cause any disruption, because they never delivered it! Do members know what
else did not deliver any disruption? The Ellenbrook rail line did not deliver
any disruption because they broke their promises twice.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I am glad the
member for Vasse interjected, because she was a key person during the election
campaign as the deputy.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : So the member
admits that she was the key person during the election campaign. She is running
away from it now! She was a key person in the election campaign. Remember, I think
a dozen times, Liberal Party members
promised Roe 8 and 9 again. They said, ''In the first 100 days, we are
going to commence Roe 8 and Roe 9.''
Dr A.D. Buti : Honk, honk!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Remember ''Honk
for Roe 8 Day''!
Again,
to show the dysfunctionality between the member for Vasse and the member for
Cottesloe, there was one person saying the project would be started
within the first 100 days and what happened on that dreaded costings day? On
their costings day, how much funding did the Liberal Party earmark for four
years for such an important project? How much funding of the $2 billion of this
project did the Liberal Party earmark on its costings day to deliver this
project? It was $100 million. The Liberal Party could not deliver projects in
government, and it could not even cost them and fund them properly during an
election campaign.
There
is the Welshpool Road–Leach Highway intersection. Again, we apologise
for the inconvenience and the disruption, but that is what happens when
real projects are delivered, unlike the corner there, which when in government —
Mr W.J. Johnston : The forward
pocket!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The forward
pocket!
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The back
pocket!
Ms L. Mettam : The Ellenbrook
rail, when will that happen?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Does the
member for Vasse really want to talk about Ellenbrook rail?
Ms L. Mettam : Yes!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Does she
really want to talk about Ellenbrook rail? Okay, let us look at that. Can I suspend
standing orders to talk about Ellenbrook rail? I do not think the Premier will
let me!
The SPEAKER : Minister, I just
remind you that the question was from the member for Victoria Park. I suggest
to the member for Vasse that if she would like to get to further opposition
questions, it is probably best not to continue to interject on the minister.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : We are out
there delivering real projects compared with the opposition, or the corner,
which delivered phantom projects.
The SPEAKER : The Leader of
the Liberal Party.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members.
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