❓ Question regarding the McGowan government's investment in local railcar manufacturing for the Australind train service and the challenges overcome. The Minister's answer touts the government's success and criticizes the opposition's record and policies.
AnsweredQoN 212Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
JOBS — RAILCAR MANUFACTURING — AUSTRALIND
212. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's investment in local railcar manufacturing that is not only
creating local jobs, but also delivering six new locally built Australind trains, which I am very pleased about.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on what this investment in the Australind means for those who use this service, particularly those across the south west?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house what challenges and opposition the government has
had to overcome in bringing railcar manufacturing back to WA?
212. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's investment in local railcar manufacturing that is not only
creating local jobs, but also delivering six new locally built Australind trains, which I am very pleased about.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on what this investment in the Australind means for those who use this service, particularly those across the south west?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house what challenges and opposition the government has
had to overcome in bringing railcar manufacturing back to WA?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Murray–Wellington
for that question.
(1)–(2) The Premier outlined that just over 10 days ago,
we opened the new Bellevue railcar manufacturing facility . We developed
this policy in opposition, and when we came to government, we worked on the
policy, got the funding and worked out how we would implement it, and now it is
happening, members! Compare that with the policy development of the opposition.
The Liberal Party's energy policy has become a game of whodunnit,
whereby the two members of the Liberal Party are leaking against each other
about who actually developed their energy policy.
Let
me go back to the real issue of railcar manufacturing in this state. As I said,
when we came to government , we looked at the Metronet expansion, the
A-series train replacement and the Australind —noting that under
the previous Liberal–National government, the Australind railcars were nearing their useful life. Let us look at the record of the
Liberal and National Parties in regional rail in WA. They sold Westrail
freight. They closed regional rail lines. When we came to government, we had to
reverse the decision of the National Party
to shut down the AvonLink . In relation to the Australind, they
had no plan. As a result of our
commitment to railcar manufacturing, we looked at new railcars for Metronet,
the A-series replacement and the Australind. Member for Murray–Wellington, of course, it will be a new service.
There will be extra capacity for the
Bunbury–Perth service and it will be a fantastic result for everyone in
the south west. B ut, of course, the Liberal Party opposed this at every
step of the way. The former Leader of the Liberal Party said that this policy
was from a bygone era, that we should not be supporting railcar manufacturing
in this state and that we would be trying to revive a policy from a bygone era.
The member for Vasse went around trying to undermine our local content policy.
She went around with an unsuccessful tenderer basically
lying about a tender process. What is the result now? We have 50 per cent of
local manufacturing for our railcars, up from two per cent under the
previous government when we look at the components. As I said, the member for Vasse went around with an unsuccessful tenderer
making absolutely false claims . What is the result? We are building our
railcar seats in WA, plus we are bringing home the manufacture of seats for our
buses, too. We are expanding our manufacturing base here in Western Australia.
As I said, this is a policy that was
developed after careful consideration and proper research in opposition. We
said that it could be done. We came to government and we are delivering,
compared with the absolute chaos of the
Liberal Party. How could we think that two members—the Liberal Party—could
create absolute chaos, leaking information against each other and
blaming each other about their energy policy?
Dr D.J. Honey : Keep on making
it up.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for Cottesloe says we are making it up. That explains the energy policy that
the Liberal Party made up at the last
minute. Now its members are blaming each other for who is responsible and who
knew about it. Of course, the member for Vasse walked away from the chaos and
the carnage. Again, we have demonstrated what it takes to actually win
government and deliver outcomes. It is hard work and it involves dealing with
the facts.
The SPEAKER : The Leader of the Liberal Party.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Just before you
start, I ask people to be quiet so we can hear the question.
for that question.
(1)–(2) The Premier outlined that just over 10 days ago,
we opened the new Bellevue railcar manufacturing facility . We developed
this policy in opposition, and when we came to government, we worked on the
policy, got the funding and worked out how we would implement it, and now it is
happening, members! Compare that with the policy development of the opposition.
The Liberal Party's energy policy has become a game of whodunnit,
whereby the two members of the Liberal Party are leaking against each other
about who actually developed their energy policy.
Let
me go back to the real issue of railcar manufacturing in this state. As I said,
when we came to government , we looked at the Metronet expansion, the
A-series train replacement and the Australind —noting that under
the previous Liberal–National government, the Australind railcars were nearing their useful life. Let us look at the record of the
Liberal and National Parties in regional rail in WA. They sold Westrail
freight. They closed regional rail lines. When we came to government, we had to
reverse the decision of the National Party
to shut down the AvonLink . In relation to the Australind, they
had no plan. As a result of our
commitment to railcar manufacturing, we looked at new railcars for Metronet,
the A-series replacement and the Australind. Member for Murray–Wellington, of course, it will be a new service.
There will be extra capacity for the
Bunbury–Perth service and it will be a fantastic result for everyone in
the south west. B ut, of course, the Liberal Party opposed this at every
step of the way. The former Leader of the Liberal Party said that this policy
was from a bygone era, that we should not be supporting railcar manufacturing
in this state and that we would be trying to revive a policy from a bygone era.
The member for Vasse went around trying to undermine our local content policy.
She went around with an unsuccessful tenderer basically
lying about a tender process. What is the result now? We have 50 per cent of
local manufacturing for our railcars, up from two per cent under the
previous government when we look at the components. As I said, the member for Vasse went around with an unsuccessful tenderer
making absolutely false claims . What is the result? We are building our
railcar seats in WA, plus we are bringing home the manufacture of seats for our
buses, too. We are expanding our manufacturing base here in Western Australia.
As I said, this is a policy that was
developed after careful consideration and proper research in opposition. We
said that it could be done. We came to government and we are delivering,
compared with the absolute chaos of the
Liberal Party. How could we think that two members—the Liberal Party—could
create absolute chaos, leaking information against each other and
blaming each other about their energy policy?
Dr D.J. Honey : Keep on making
it up.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for Cottesloe says we are making it up. That explains the energy policy that
the Liberal Party made up at the last
minute. Now its members are blaming each other for who is responsible and who
knew about it. Of course, the member for Vasse walked away from the chaos and
the carnage. Again, we have demonstrated what it takes to actually win
government and deliver outcomes. It is hard work and it involves dealing with
the facts.
The SPEAKER : The Leader of the Liberal Party.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Just before you
start, I ask people to be quiet so we can hear the question.
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