❓ Question regarding safety concerns on the Forrestfield-Airport Link project, specifically the Minister's response to reported safety issues. The Minister defends the government's actions and blames the previous government's contract.
AnsweredQoN 855Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FORRESTFIELD–AIRPORT
LINK — WORKER SAFETY
855. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Minister for Transport:
Before I ask my question, on behalf
of the member for Cottesloe I acknowledge the year 9 students from Methodist Ladies'
College, in his electorate, who are in the gallery this afternoon.
I refer to the shocking expose on
Channel Nine last night on the Metronet Forrestfield–Airport Link
contract that revealed that the minister was advised 11 months ago of significant
safety concerns on the project, including the potential for injury, even death.
As minister, why has she failed to intervene and what exact measures will the
minister now take to protect the workers' safety?
LINK — WORKER SAFETY
855. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Minister for Transport:
Before I ask my question, on behalf
of the member for Cottesloe I acknowledge the year 9 students from Methodist Ladies'
College, in his electorate, who are in the gallery this afternoon.
I refer to the shocking expose on
Channel Nine last night on the Metronet Forrestfield–Airport Link
contract that revealed that the minister was advised 11 months ago of significant
safety concerns on the project, including the potential for injury, even death.
As minister, why has she failed to intervene and what exact measures will the
minister now take to protect the workers' safety?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
Quality and safety is the number one priority of this government. The contract
we inherited is a design and construct contract. We have limitations on what we
can do on a day-to-day basis, but we are very, very keen to make sure that the
safety and quality requirements are adhered to. We have had WorkSafe visit the
site and we are making sure that we are doing everything within the constraints
of our contract to get a good outcome for WA. The other side sits there; the
Liberal–National government championed this contract when it signed it.
It was warned about potential quality issues with this contract.
Mr D.C. Nalder : Show us that
warning. Where?
The SPEAKER : Excuse me!
Member for Bateman, I will tell you where. I call you to order for the first
time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
was warned.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, I am on my feet. I call you to order for the first time. Other
members, if you ask a question, listen to the answer.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Members were
warned about it. The Liberal–National government said that tunnelling
in sand is easy. Last night, we saw the member for Scarborough on TV say that
we should cancel the contract and we should let the two tunnel boring machines
sit there because we do not own them. They are owned by the company. She said
that we should walk away and leave two TBMs sitting there tens of metres
underground, leaving this vacant area and half a tunnel built. That is what the
member for Scarborough is saying.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : Do not take
me out of context.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Scarborough!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for Scarborough said that we should cancel the contract and leave the TBMs
there—to extinguish the contract. This is a challenging project, as I have
said on numerous occasions. The Public Transport Authority, together with all
government agencies, is working to make sure that safety and quality are the
number one priority, and that is what we are doing.
Quality and safety is the number one priority of this government. The contract
we inherited is a design and construct contract. We have limitations on what we
can do on a day-to-day basis, but we are very, very keen to make sure that the
safety and quality requirements are adhered to. We have had WorkSafe visit the
site and we are making sure that we are doing everything within the constraints
of our contract to get a good outcome for WA. The other side sits there; the
Liberal–National government championed this contract when it signed it.
It was warned about potential quality issues with this contract.
Mr D.C. Nalder : Show us that
warning. Where?
The SPEAKER : Excuse me!
Member for Bateman, I will tell you where. I call you to order for the first
time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
was warned.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, I am on my feet. I call you to order for the first time. Other
members, if you ask a question, listen to the answer.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Members were
warned about it. The Liberal–National government said that tunnelling
in sand is easy. Last night, we saw the member for Scarborough on TV say that
we should cancel the contract and we should let the two tunnel boring machines
sit there because we do not own them. They are owned by the company. She said
that we should walk away and leave two TBMs sitting there tens of metres
underground, leaving this vacant area and half a tunnel built. That is what the
member for Scarborough is saying.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : Do not take
me out of context.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Scarborough!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for Scarborough said that we should cancel the contract and leave the TBMs
there—to extinguish the contract. This is a challenging project, as I have
said on numerous occasions. The Public Transport Authority, together with all
government agencies, is working to make sure that safety and quality are the
number one priority, and that is what we are doing.
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