❓ Ms McGurk questions the Minister for Transport on prioritising the Fremantle Traffic Bridge replacement to increase freight on rail over the Perth Freight Link. The Minister defends the Perth Freight Link, highlighting the importance of both rail and road transport for freight.
AnsweredQoN 615Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FREMANTLE —
NEW ROAD AND RAIL BRIDGE
615. Ms S.F. McGURK to the Minister for
Transport:
I have a supplementary question. Why
does the minister not get his priorities straight and replace —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time. I
want to hear the supplementary question in silence.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland! I want to hear the member for Fremantle.
Ms
S.F. McGURK : Why does the minister not get his priorities straight and
replace the Fremantle Traffic Bridge to get more freight on rail instead of
building the Perth Freight Link?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Churchlands, I call you to order for the first time.
Member for Wanneroo, I call you for the second time. Start again, please,
member for Fremantle.
Ms
S.F. McGURK : Why does the minister not get his priorities straight and
replace the Fremantle Traffic Bridge to get more freight on rail instead of
building the Perth Freight Link?
NEW ROAD AND RAIL BRIDGE
615. Ms S.F. McGURK to the Minister for
Transport:
I have a supplementary question. Why
does the minister not get his priorities straight and replace —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time. I
want to hear the supplementary question in silence.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland! I want to hear the member for Fremantle.
Ms
S.F. McGURK : Why does the minister not get his priorities straight and
replace the Fremantle Traffic Bridge to get more freight on rail instead of
building the Perth Freight Link?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Churchlands, I call you to order for the first time.
Member for Wanneroo, I call you for the second time. Start again, please,
member for Fremantle.
Ms
S.F. McGURK : Why does the minister not get his priorities straight and
replace the Fremantle Traffic Bridge to get more freight on rail instead of
building the Perth Freight Link?
AnswerView source ↗
Get more freight on rail! Western Australia—Perth—shifts
more freight via rail than any other capital city in Australia. We shift more
by rail—14.2 per cent. We have an ambition to shift 30 per cent and we
have invested in the last 12 months on increasing and lengthening the spur down
at the port and on creating overtaking lines on the rail line so that we can
continue to grow freight by rail. As I have said, the government—the
opposition has been supportive of this—has had an aspiration of getting
up to 30 per cent shifted by rail. That means a minimum of 70 per cent still
needs to move by road. I really do not understand the level of this
questioning. I � m trying to explain it as
clearly as I can.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr D.C. NALDER : It
is wrong to think that the problem is about Fremantle getting extra containers
on rail. The challenge is in shifting containers by rail and shifting them out
to Kewdale. Then what happens? They are put on a truck and half of them come
back again. There is a certain percentage. When we have talked to industries
around the world, they have said if we ever got to 30 per cent, it would be
best practice. Therefore, shifting containers by truck is essential and
necessary. We are saying we want to create a dedicated route to shift those
trucks away from suburban roads and highways. That is what we have said. We
want to create a safer environment for our communities. We want to reduce
congestion in our communities and we want to make it more efficient for
industry. We can achieve all three things with the creation of the Perth
Freight Link. I cannot understand their argument, particularly when I sit down
and look at the plans that Alannah MacTiernan had, which was the freight link
along High Street and Leach Highway. It is absolute nonsense from the
opposition.
more freight via rail than any other capital city in Australia. We shift more
by rail—14.2 per cent. We have an ambition to shift 30 per cent and we
have invested in the last 12 months on increasing and lengthening the spur down
at the port and on creating overtaking lines on the rail line so that we can
continue to grow freight by rail. As I have said, the government—the
opposition has been supportive of this—has had an aspiration of getting
up to 30 per cent shifted by rail. That means a minimum of 70 per cent still
needs to move by road. I really do not understand the level of this
questioning. I � m trying to explain it as
clearly as I can.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr D.C. NALDER : It
is wrong to think that the problem is about Fremantle getting extra containers
on rail. The challenge is in shifting containers by rail and shifting them out
to Kewdale. Then what happens? They are put on a truck and half of them come
back again. There is a certain percentage. When we have talked to industries
around the world, they have said if we ever got to 30 per cent, it would be
best practice. Therefore, shifting containers by truck is essential and
necessary. We are saying we want to create a dedicated route to shift those
trucks away from suburban roads and highways. That is what we have said. We
want to create a safer environment for our communities. We want to reduce
congestion in our communities and we want to make it more efficient for
industry. We can achieve all three things with the creation of the Perth
Freight Link. I cannot understand their argument, particularly when I sit down
and look at the plans that Alannah MacTiernan had, which was the freight link
along High Street and Leach Highway. It is absolute nonsense from the
opposition.
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