❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Minister for Transport regarding repeated delays in the completion of the Smart Freeways initiative. The Minister responds with a completion timeframe and deflects by referencing past government failures and internal opposition issues.
AnsweredQoN 514Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SMART FREEWAYS INITIATIVE
514. Ms
L. METTAM to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the smart freeways
initiative and the minister's public announcements that it would be
completed in May, June and then July. Can the minister advise the house when
this $47 million project is likely to be completed, given that she has been in
government for almost 42 months?
514. Ms
L. METTAM to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the smart freeways
initiative and the minister's public announcements that it would be
completed in May, June and then July. Can the minister advise the house when
this $47 million project is likely to be completed, given that she has been in
government for almost 42 months?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
I was asked that question this morning and the answer is this month. We are
spending a record amount on infrastructure in Western Australia. In eight
years, the previous government could not build Roe 8. Remember that? Even
though it took it to the election, it could not build Roe 8 in eight years. It
said that it was the most important project on the surface of this Earth, but
it could not do it in eight years.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : MAX light rail
took over.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Members
opposite promised the Ellenbrook rail line and they never delivered it.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : They promised
MAX light rail and they never delivered it. When we came to government, we went
to the federal government and we negotiated a record amount of federal funding
and state funding to deliver a record infrastructure program. The smart
freeways program is being delivered.
Mr D.C. Nalder : When?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I just said
it. Honestly! I am sorry that the member got demoted, but he should not be
angry with us; he should be angry with the people around him, because it was
not our fault that he got demoted.
Mr M. McGowan : Who got
promoted?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : They gave
bits and pieces to everybody, as I understand it. I do not know about the
member for Bateman, but if I lost a portfolio to the member for Carine, I would
be pretty angry.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : The question from the member for Vasse was about the smart
freeway. This has nothing to do with it.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! The
point of order will be heard in silence. I am sure that the minister is getting
back on track.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It will be
delivered this month.
The SPEAKER : I wish the
trains were that quick!
I was asked that question this morning and the answer is this month. We are
spending a record amount on infrastructure in Western Australia. In eight
years, the previous government could not build Roe 8. Remember that? Even
though it took it to the election, it could not build Roe 8 in eight years. It
said that it was the most important project on the surface of this Earth, but
it could not do it in eight years.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : MAX light rail
took over.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Members
opposite promised the Ellenbrook rail line and they never delivered it.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : They promised
MAX light rail and they never delivered it. When we came to government, we went
to the federal government and we negotiated a record amount of federal funding
and state funding to deliver a record infrastructure program. The smart
freeways program is being delivered.
Mr D.C. Nalder : When?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I just said
it. Honestly! I am sorry that the member got demoted, but he should not be
angry with us; he should be angry with the people around him, because it was
not our fault that he got demoted.
Mr M. McGowan : Who got
promoted?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : They gave
bits and pieces to everybody, as I understand it. I do not know about the
member for Bateman, but if I lost a portfolio to the member for Carine, I would
be pretty angry.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : The question from the member for Vasse was about the smart
freeway. This has nothing to do with it.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! The
point of order will be heard in silence. I am sure that the minister is getting
back on track.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It will be
delivered this month.
The SPEAKER : I wish the
trains were that quick!
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