❓ Mr. Barnett questions the Premier about the Southern Rail Link project, specifically regarding the preferred route and cost overruns. The Premier responds by announcing the release of the advisory committee's report for public consultation and defends the government's commitment to a long-term public transport solution.
AnsweredQoN 772Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOUTHERN RAIL LINK, PERTH CITY RAIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE PREFERRED ROUTE
I refer the Premier to the findings of the Perth City Rail Advisory Committee, which favours a freeway route for the city section of the southern rail link. (1) Given that the freeway route is cheaper, less disruptive and visually more appealing, will the Government now abandon its preferred route that brings the rail line along the river foreshore and into the city by tunnelling under William Street? (2) In the light of the admission by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure in question time this week that the cost of the city route has blown out beyond original estimates, did the Premier mislead the people of Western Australia when he guaranteed in July last year that the cost of the project would be contained within existing budget estimates? Dr GALLOP
I refer the Premier to the findings of the Perth City Rail Advisory Committee, which favours a freeway route for the city section of the southern rail link. (1) Given that the freeway route is cheaper, less disruptive and visually more appealing, will the Government now abandon its preferred route that brings the rail line along the river foreshore and into the city by tunnelling under William Street? (2) In the light of the admission by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure in question time this week that the cost of the city route has blown out beyond original estimates, did the Premier mislead the people of Western Australia when he guaranteed in July last year that the cost of the project would be contained within existing budget estimates? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) As the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure announced earlier today, the Government of Western Australia will release the report that was prepared for it by the expert advisory committee, so that all Western Australians, and particularly those who live in the metropolitan area, can consider this issue that is of fundamental importance for the future of this State. When we talk about the future of Perth we have to take a long-term view and make sure that we have a good public transport system to serve the people. I note in passing that it was a former Liberal Government that closed the railway line from Fremantle to Perth, opposed the Joondalup line and did not add one centimetre of rail line to our system during its term of government. The Government has released the report of the advisory committee. The emphasis in the report is on the freeway option as opposed to what is called the central option. The Government will take that into account when it makes its final decision in April. Before the Government makes its final decision, and on the strong recommendation of the minister, the matter will go to the public so that they can be consulted, particularly those interest groups in our community that have declared they want to comment on it, such as architects, planners and CityVision. I congratulate the minister for releasing that report. This project for the people of Perth will be in place throughout the twenty-first century. The Government wants to ensure it is a good project. As a result of the work that has been done on the central route, the eastern route and the freeway route, the committee has come up with some new ideas that will cost some extra money because they add to the project and improve it. Mr Barnett: No, it is because you have changed the route. Dr GALLOP: I want the Leader of the Opposition to try something. When he goes home tonight he should stand in front of the mirror, look at himself and say this: I think that is a good idea and I will work with the Government to implement it. It is not difficult, Leader of the Opposition. I think it is about time the Leader of the Opposition started to think of the interests of the State instead of his petty party political interests.
(1) Given that the freeway route is cheaper, less disruptive and visually more appealing, will the Government now abandon its preferred route that brings the rail line along the river foreshore and into the city by tunnelling under William Street? (2) In the light of the admission by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure in question time this week that the cost of the city route has blown out beyond original estimates, did the Premier mislead the people of Western Australia when he guaranteed in July last year that the cost of the project would be contained within existing budget estimates? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) As the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure announced earlier today, the Government of Western Australia will release the report that was prepared for it by the expert advisory committee, so that all Western Australians, and particularly those who live in the metropolitan area, can consider this issue that is of fundamental importance for the future of this State. When we talk about the future of Perth we have to take a long-term view and make sure that we have a good public transport system to serve the people. I note in passing that it was a former Liberal Government that closed the railway line from Fremantle to Perth, opposed the Joondalup line and did not add one centimetre of rail line to our system during its term of government. The Government has released the report of the advisory committee. The emphasis in the report is on the freeway option as opposed to what is called the central option. The Government will take that into account when it makes its final decision in April. Before the Government makes its final decision, and on the strong recommendation of the minister, the matter will go to the public so that they can be consulted, particularly those interest groups in our community that have declared they want to comment on it, such as architects, planners and CityVision. I congratulate the minister for releasing that report. This project for the people of Perth will be in place throughout the twenty-first century. The Government wants to ensure it is a good project. As a result of the work that has been done on the central route, the eastern route and the freeway route, the committee has come up with some new ideas that will cost some extra money because they add to the project and improve it. Mr Barnett: No, it is because you have changed the route. Dr GALLOP: I want the Leader of the Opposition to try something. When he goes home tonight he should stand in front of the mirror, look at himself and say this: I think that is a good idea and I will work with the Government to implement it. It is not difficult, Leader of the Opposition. I think it is about time the Leader of the Opposition started to think of the interests of the State instead of his petty party political interests.
(2) In the light of the admission by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure in question time this week that the cost of the city route has blown out beyond original estimates, did the Premier mislead the people of Western Australia when he guaranteed in July last year that the cost of the project would be contained within existing budget estimates? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) As the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure announced earlier today, the Government of Western Australia will release the report that was prepared for it by the expert advisory committee, so that all Western Australians, and particularly those who live in the metropolitan area, can consider this issue that is of fundamental importance for the future of this State. When we talk about the future of Perth we have to take a long-term view and make sure that we have a good public transport system to serve the people. I note in passing that it was a former Liberal Government that closed the railway line from Fremantle to Perth, opposed the Joondalup line and did not add one centimetre of rail line to our system during its term of government. The Government has released the report of the advisory committee. The emphasis in the report is on the freeway option as opposed to what is called the central option. The Government will take that into account when it makes its final decision in April. Before the Government makes its final decision, and on the strong recommendation of the minister, the matter will go to the public so that they can be consulted, particularly those interest groups in our community that have declared they want to comment on it, such as architects, planners and CityVision. I congratulate the minister for releasing that report. This project for the people of Perth will be in place throughout the twenty-first century. The Government wants to ensure it is a good project. As a result of the work that has been done on the central route, the eastern route and the freeway route, the committee has come up with some new ideas that will cost some extra money because they add to the project and improve it. Mr Barnett: No, it is because you have changed the route. Dr GALLOP: I want the Leader of the Opposition to try something. When he goes home tonight he should stand in front of the mirror, look at himself and say this: I think that is a good idea and I will work with the Government to implement it. It is not difficult, Leader of the Opposition. I think it is about time the Leader of the Opposition started to think of the interests of the State instead of his petty party political interests.
Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) As the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure announced earlier today, the Government of Western Australia will release the report that was prepared for it by the expert advisory committee, so that all Western Australians, and particularly those who live in the metropolitan area, can consider this issue that is of fundamental importance for the future of this State. When we talk about the future of Perth we have to take a long-term view and make sure that we have a good public transport system to serve the people. I note in passing that it was a former Liberal Government that closed the railway line from Fremantle to Perth, opposed the Joondalup line and did not add one centimetre of rail line to our system during its term of government. The Government has released the report of the advisory committee. The emphasis in the report is on the freeway option as opposed to what is called the central option. The Government will take that into account when it makes its final decision in April. Before the Government makes its final decision, and on the strong recommendation of the minister, the matter will go to the public so that they can be consulted, particularly those interest groups in our community that have declared they want to comment on it, such as architects, planners and CityVision. I congratulate the minister for releasing that report. This project for the people of Perth will be in place throughout the twenty-first century. The Government wants to ensure it is a good project. As a result of the work that has been done on the central route, the eastern route and the freeway route, the committee has come up with some new ideas that will cost some extra money because they add to the project and improve it. Mr Barnett: No, it is because you have changed the route. Dr GALLOP: I want the Leader of the Opposition to try something. When he goes home tonight he should stand in front of the mirror, look at himself and say this: I think that is a good idea and I will work with the Government to implement it. It is not difficult, Leader of the Opposition. I think it is about time the Leader of the Opposition started to think of the interests of the State instead of his petty party political interests.
(1)-(2) As the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure announced earlier today, the Government of Western Australia will release the report that was prepared for it by the expert advisory committee, so that all Western Australians, and particularly those who live in the metropolitan area, can consider this issue that is of fundamental importance for the future of this State. When we talk about the future of Perth we have to take a long-term view and make sure that we have a good public transport system to serve the people. I note in passing that it was a former Liberal Government that closed the railway line from Fremantle to Perth, opposed the Joondalup line and did not add one centimetre of rail line to our system during its term of government. The Government has released the report of the advisory committee. The emphasis in the report is on the freeway option as opposed to what is called the central option. The Government will take that into account when it makes its final decision in April. Before the Government makes its final decision, and on the strong recommendation of the minister, the matter will go to the public so that they can be consulted, particularly those interest groups in our community that have declared they want to comment on it, such as architects, planners and CityVision. I congratulate the minister for releasing that report. This project for the people of Perth will be in place throughout the twenty-first century. The Government wants to ensure it is a good project. As a result of the work that has been done on the central route, the eastern route and the freeway route, the committee has come up with some new ideas that will cost some extra money because they add to the project and improve it. Mr Barnett: No, it is because you have changed the route. Dr GALLOP: I want the Leader of the Opposition to try something. When he goes home tonight he should stand in front of the mirror, look at himself and say this: I think that is a good idea and I will work with the Government to implement it. It is not difficult, Leader of the Opposition. I think it is about time the Leader of the Opposition started to think of the interests of the State instead of his petty party political interests.
This project for the people of Perth will be in place throughout the twenty-first century. The Government wants to ensure it is a good project. As a result of the work that has been done on the central route, the eastern route and the freeway route, the committee has come up with some new ideas that will cost some extra money because they add to the project and improve it.
Dr GALLOP: I want the Leader of the Opposition to try something. When he goes home tonight he should stand in front of the mirror, look at himself and say this: I think that is a good idea and I will work with the Government to implement it. It is not difficult, Leader of the Opposition. I think it is about time the Leader of the Opposition started to think of the interests of the State instead of his petty party political interests.
(1) Given that the freeway route is cheaper, less disruptive and visually more appealing, will the Government now abandon its preferred route that brings the rail line along the river foreshore and into the city by tunnelling under William Street? (2) In the light of the admission by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure in question time this week that the cost of the city route has blown out beyond original estimates, did the Premier mislead the people of Western Australia when he guaranteed in July last year that the cost of the project would be contained within existing budget estimates? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) As the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure announced earlier today, the Government of Western Australia will release the report that was prepared for it by the expert advisory committee, so that all Western Australians, and particularly those who live in the metropolitan area, can consider this issue that is of fundamental importance for the future of this State. When we talk about the future of Perth we have to take a long-term view and make sure that we have a good public transport system to serve the people. I note in passing that it was a former Liberal Government that closed the railway line from Fremantle to Perth, opposed the Joondalup line and did not add one centimetre of rail line to our system during its term of government. The Government has released the report of the advisory committee. The emphasis in the report is on the freeway option as opposed to what is called the central option. The Government will take that into account when it makes its final decision in April. Before the Government makes its final decision, and on the strong recommendation of the minister, the matter will go to the public so that they can be consulted, particularly those interest groups in our community that have declared they want to comment on it, such as architects, planners and CityVision. I congratulate the minister for releasing that report. This project for the people of Perth will be in place throughout the twenty-first century. The Government wants to ensure it is a good project. As a result of the work that has been done on the central route, the eastern route and the freeway route, the committee has come up with some new ideas that will cost some extra money because they add to the project and improve it. Mr Barnett: No, it is because you have changed the route. Dr GALLOP: I want the Leader of the Opposition to try something. When he goes home tonight he should stand in front of the mirror, look at himself and say this: I think that is a good idea and I will work with the Government to implement it. It is not difficult, Leader of the Opposition. I think it is about time the Leader of the Opposition started to think of the interests of the State instead of his petty party political interests.
(2) In the light of the admission by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure in question time this week that the cost of the city route has blown out beyond original estimates, did the Premier mislead the people of Western Australia when he guaranteed in July last year that the cost of the project would be contained within existing budget estimates? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) As the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure announced earlier today, the Government of Western Australia will release the report that was prepared for it by the expert advisory committee, so that all Western Australians, and particularly those who live in the metropolitan area, can consider this issue that is of fundamental importance for the future of this State. When we talk about the future of Perth we have to take a long-term view and make sure that we have a good public transport system to serve the people. I note in passing that it was a former Liberal Government that closed the railway line from Fremantle to Perth, opposed the Joondalup line and did not add one centimetre of rail line to our system during its term of government. The Government has released the report of the advisory committee. The emphasis in the report is on the freeway option as opposed to what is called the central option. The Government will take that into account when it makes its final decision in April. Before the Government makes its final decision, and on the strong recommendation of the minister, the matter will go to the public so that they can be consulted, particularly those interest groups in our community that have declared they want to comment on it, such as architects, planners and CityVision. I congratulate the minister for releasing that report. This project for the people of Perth will be in place throughout the twenty-first century. The Government wants to ensure it is a good project. As a result of the work that has been done on the central route, the eastern route and the freeway route, the committee has come up with some new ideas that will cost some extra money because they add to the project and improve it. Mr Barnett: No, it is because you have changed the route. Dr GALLOP: I want the Leader of the Opposition to try something. When he goes home tonight he should stand in front of the mirror, look at himself and say this: I think that is a good idea and I will work with the Government to implement it. It is not difficult, Leader of the Opposition. I think it is about time the Leader of the Opposition started to think of the interests of the State instead of his petty party political interests.
Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) As the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure announced earlier today, the Government of Western Australia will release the report that was prepared for it by the expert advisory committee, so that all Western Australians, and particularly those who live in the metropolitan area, can consider this issue that is of fundamental importance for the future of this State. When we talk about the future of Perth we have to take a long-term view and make sure that we have a good public transport system to serve the people. I note in passing that it was a former Liberal Government that closed the railway line from Fremantle to Perth, opposed the Joondalup line and did not add one centimetre of rail line to our system during its term of government. The Government has released the report of the advisory committee. The emphasis in the report is on the freeway option as opposed to what is called the central option. The Government will take that into account when it makes its final decision in April. Before the Government makes its final decision, and on the strong recommendation of the minister, the matter will go to the public so that they can be consulted, particularly those interest groups in our community that have declared they want to comment on it, such as architects, planners and CityVision. I congratulate the minister for releasing that report. This project for the people of Perth will be in place throughout the twenty-first century. The Government wants to ensure it is a good project. As a result of the work that has been done on the central route, the eastern route and the freeway route, the committee has come up with some new ideas that will cost some extra money because they add to the project and improve it. Mr Barnett: No, it is because you have changed the route. Dr GALLOP: I want the Leader of the Opposition to try something. When he goes home tonight he should stand in front of the mirror, look at himself and say this: I think that is a good idea and I will work with the Government to implement it. It is not difficult, Leader of the Opposition. I think it is about time the Leader of the Opposition started to think of the interests of the State instead of his petty party political interests.
(1)-(2) As the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure announced earlier today, the Government of Western Australia will release the report that was prepared for it by the expert advisory committee, so that all Western Australians, and particularly those who live in the metropolitan area, can consider this issue that is of fundamental importance for the future of this State. When we talk about the future of Perth we have to take a long-term view and make sure that we have a good public transport system to serve the people. I note in passing that it was a former Liberal Government that closed the railway line from Fremantle to Perth, opposed the Joondalup line and did not add one centimetre of rail line to our system during its term of government. The Government has released the report of the advisory committee. The emphasis in the report is on the freeway option as opposed to what is called the central option. The Government will take that into account when it makes its final decision in April. Before the Government makes its final decision, and on the strong recommendation of the minister, the matter will go to the public so that they can be consulted, particularly those interest groups in our community that have declared they want to comment on it, such as architects, planners and CityVision. I congratulate the minister for releasing that report. This project for the people of Perth will be in place throughout the twenty-first century. The Government wants to ensure it is a good project. As a result of the work that has been done on the central route, the eastern route and the freeway route, the committee has come up with some new ideas that will cost some extra money because they add to the project and improve it. Mr Barnett: No, it is because you have changed the route. Dr GALLOP: I want the Leader of the Opposition to try something. When he goes home tonight he should stand in front of the mirror, look at himself and say this: I think that is a good idea and I will work with the Government to implement it. It is not difficult, Leader of the Opposition. I think it is about time the Leader of the Opposition started to think of the interests of the State instead of his petty party political interests.
This project for the people of Perth will be in place throughout the twenty-first century. The Government wants to ensure it is a good project. As a result of the work that has been done on the central route, the eastern route and the freeway route, the committee has come up with some new ideas that will cost some extra money because they add to the project and improve it.
Dr GALLOP: I want the Leader of the Opposition to try something. When he goes home tonight he should stand in front of the mirror, look at himself and say this: I think that is a good idea and I will work with the Government to implement it. It is not difficult, Leader of the Opposition. I think it is about time the Leader of the Opposition started to think of the interests of the State instead of his petty party political interests.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.