❓ Opposition questions the government's engagement with Infrastructure Australia regarding priority infrastructure projects, particularly in light of recent statements and a Senate committee hearing. The Minister clarifies the government's position, stating they engage with IA and are seeking funding for the Forrestfield-Airport Link.
AnsweredQoN 887Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INFRASTRUCTURE
AUSTRALIA
887. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the evidence by the chairman of Infrastructure
Australia to a Senate committee on Monday that WA was the only state or
territory not to have submitted a list of priority infrastructure projects and
the Premier's claim yesterday that the WA government will not deal with
Infrastructure Australia.
Mr C.J. Barnett : I
didn't say that.
The SPEAKER :
Premier, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear this in
silence.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I
ask —
(1) Did the
minister or his department prepare a list of priority infrastructure projects
for submission to Infrastructure Australia this year?
(2) Has the minister submitted this list to the Premier's
department or the Premier's office?
(3) When did
the WA government change its policy with respect to Infrastructure Australia,
given that the government has submitted infrastructure priority lists in
previous years?
AUSTRALIA
887. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the evidence by the chairman of Infrastructure
Australia to a Senate committee on Monday that WA was the only state or
territory not to have submitted a list of priority infrastructure projects and
the Premier's claim yesterday that the WA government will not deal with
Infrastructure Australia.
Mr C.J. Barnett : I
didn't say that.
The SPEAKER :
Premier, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear this in
silence.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I
ask —
(1) Did the
minister or his department prepare a list of priority infrastructure projects
for submission to Infrastructure Australia this year?
(2) Has the minister submitted this list to the Premier's
department or the Premier's office?
(3) When did
the WA government change its policy with respect to Infrastructure Australia,
given that the government has submitted infrastructure priority lists in
previous years?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
First, I would like to clarify something that the Premier did say yesterday—that
is, we would not be controlled by Infrastructure Australia. My office and the
department do supply information to Infrastructure Australia. I would like to
share with members in this house that given the changes in the federal
government, we have submitted a major submission in the last couple of weeks
and provided the business case and the PDP to Infrastructure Australia for the
Forrestfield–Airport Link. We are doing that because there is potential—construction
has not started—to seek funding for that.
Mr M. McGowan :
That's wrong.
The SPEAKER :
Leader of the Opposition, you might think it is wrong. Deal with it in another
way other than by shouting out.
Mr D.C. NALDER :
For years we have worked on priority lists for infrastructure projects, and we
engage with Infrastructure Australia. There has been a recent change of Prime
Minister, which has resulted in the potential for us to do some work to ensure
that we get support around public transport. We have an infrastructure priority
list but we are doing additional work around public transport. I have been
liaising with the Premier. He and I have discussed this issue and we are
working on it. As the Premier said yesterday, the decisions are not taken by Infrastructure
Australia as to what projects we will do.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr D.C. NALDER :
The state government of Western Australia will determine the priority projects
that we will undertake. We will engage with Infrastructure Australia, as we
have always done in the past.
First, I would like to clarify something that the Premier did say yesterday—that
is, we would not be controlled by Infrastructure Australia. My office and the
department do supply information to Infrastructure Australia. I would like to
share with members in this house that given the changes in the federal
government, we have submitted a major submission in the last couple of weeks
and provided the business case and the PDP to Infrastructure Australia for the
Forrestfield–Airport Link. We are doing that because there is potential—construction
has not started—to seek funding for that.
Mr M. McGowan :
That's wrong.
The SPEAKER :
Leader of the Opposition, you might think it is wrong. Deal with it in another
way other than by shouting out.
Mr D.C. NALDER :
For years we have worked on priority lists for infrastructure projects, and we
engage with Infrastructure Australia. There has been a recent change of Prime
Minister, which has resulted in the potential for us to do some work to ensure
that we get support around public transport. We have an infrastructure priority
list but we are doing additional work around public transport. I have been
liaising with the Premier. He and I have discussed this issue and we are
working on it. As the Premier said yesterday, the decisions are not taken by Infrastructure
Australia as to what projects we will do.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr D.C. NALDER :
The state government of Western Australia will determine the priority projects
that we will undertake. We will engage with Infrastructure Australia, as we
have always done in the past.
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