A WA parliamentary question probes the state government's commitment to matching federal funding for the Outback Highway. The response highlights existing state investment and criticizes the federal contribution as insufficient.

AnsweredQoN 786Legislative Council
Asked
29 September 2004
Portfolio
Planning and Infrastructure

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Is the minister aware that the federal coalition Government committed $10 million to the popular Outback Highway from Laverton to Winton in Queensland? (2) Given that this road undoubtedly brings great numbers of tourists and great economic benefits to Western Australia, is the Labor Party planning to match any part of the $10 million commitment; and, if not, why not? Hon KEN TRAVERS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. The federal Government announced an allocation of $10 million, which is to be spread across three jurisdictions: Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. It is understood that only $1.5 million of the federal allocation is to be applied to the Western Australian section of the Outback Highway. Hon Murray Criddle: The question is whether you will match that part. Hon KEN TRAVERS: Wait. Hon Peter Foss always tells us to wait for the punchline. (2) The State Government is committed to the Outback Highway project and has spent $6.5 million of state funds on the road between 1998-99 and 2003-04. We expect - Hon Murray Criddle: That is what we spent in 1998-99. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon KEN TRAVERS: The punchlines get better and they cannot wait for them! The PRESIDENT: The parliamentary secretary will get on with the answer. Hon KEN TRAVERS: But they are such good punchlines. We expect to spend $1.3 million in this financial year, and a further $3.5 million is provided in the current forward estimates. As can be seen, the State Government will have spent its committed $11.3 million, which highlights the paltry nature of the federal Government’s proposed contribution.
(2) Given that this road undoubtedly brings great numbers of tourists and great economic benefits to Western Australia, is the Labor Party planning to match any part of the $10 million commitment; and, if not, why not? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. The federal Government announced an allocation of $10 million, which is to be spread across three jurisdictions: Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. It is understood that only $1.5 million of the federal allocation is to be applied to the Western Australian section of the Outback Highway. Hon Murray Criddle: The question is whether you will match that part. Hon KEN TRAVERS: Wait. Hon Peter Foss always tells us to wait for the punchline. (2) The State Government is committed to the Outback Highway project and has spent $6.5 million of state funds on the road between 1998-99 and 2003-04. We expect - Hon Murray Criddle: That is what we spent in 1998-99. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon KEN TRAVERS: The punchlines get better and they cannot wait for them! The PRESIDENT: The parliamentary secretary will get on with the answer. Hon KEN TRAVERS: But they are such good punchlines. We expect to spend $1.3 million in this financial year, and a further $3.5 million is provided in the current forward estimates. As can be seen, the State Government will have spent its committed $11.3 million, which highlights the paltry nature of the federal Government’s proposed contribution.
Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. The federal Government announced an allocation of $10 million, which is to be spread across three jurisdictions: Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. It is understood that only $1.5 million of the federal allocation is to be applied to the Western Australian section of the Outback Highway. Hon Murray Criddle: The question is whether you will match that part. Hon KEN TRAVERS: Wait. Hon Peter Foss always tells us to wait for the punchline. (2) The State Government is committed to the Outback Highway project and has spent $6.5 million of state funds on the road between 1998-99 and 2003-04. We expect - Hon Murray Criddle: That is what we spent in 1998-99. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon KEN TRAVERS: The punchlines get better and they cannot wait for them! The PRESIDENT: The parliamentary secretary will get on with the answer. Hon KEN TRAVERS: But they are such good punchlines. We expect to spend $1.3 million in this financial year, and a further $3.5 million is provided in the current forward estimates. As can be seen, the State Government will have spent its committed $11.3 million, which highlights the paltry nature of the federal Government’s proposed contribution.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. The federal Government announced an allocation of $10 million, which is to be spread across three jurisdictions: Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. It is understood that only $1.5 million of the federal allocation is to be applied to the Western Australian section of the Outback Highway. Hon Murray Criddle: The question is whether you will match that part. Hon KEN TRAVERS: Wait. Hon Peter Foss always tells us to wait for the punchline. (2) The State Government is committed to the Outback Highway project and has spent $6.5 million of state funds on the road between 1998-99 and 2003-04. We expect - Hon Murray Criddle: That is what we spent in 1998-99. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon KEN TRAVERS: The punchlines get better and they cannot wait for them! The PRESIDENT: The parliamentary secretary will get on with the answer. Hon KEN TRAVERS: But they are such good punchlines. We expect to spend $1.3 million in this financial year, and a further $3.5 million is provided in the current forward estimates. As can be seen, the State Government will have spent its committed $11.3 million, which highlights the paltry nature of the federal Government’s proposed contribution.
(1) Yes. The federal Government announced an allocation of $10 million, which is to be spread across three jurisdictions: Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. It is understood that only $1.5 million of the federal allocation is to be applied to the Western Australian section of the Outback Highway. Hon Murray Criddle: The question is whether you will match that part. Hon KEN TRAVERS: Wait. Hon Peter Foss always tells us to wait for the punchline. (2) The State Government is committed to the Outback Highway project and has spent $6.5 million of state funds on the road between 1998-99 and 2003-04. We expect - Hon Murray Criddle: That is what we spent in 1998-99. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon KEN TRAVERS: The punchlines get better and they cannot wait for them! The PRESIDENT: The parliamentary secretary will get on with the answer. Hon KEN TRAVERS: But they are such good punchlines. We expect to spend $1.3 million in this financial year, and a further $3.5 million is provided in the current forward estimates. As can be seen, the State Government will have spent its committed $11.3 million, which highlights the paltry nature of the federal Government’s proposed contribution.
Hon Murray Criddle: The question is whether you will match that part. Hon KEN TRAVERS: Wait. Hon Peter Foss always tells us to wait for the punchline. (2) The State Government is committed to the Outback Highway project and has spent $6.5 million of state funds on the road between 1998-99 and 2003-04. We expect - Hon Murray Criddle: That is what we spent in 1998-99. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon KEN TRAVERS: The punchlines get better and they cannot wait for them! The PRESIDENT: The parliamentary secretary will get on with the answer. Hon KEN TRAVERS: But they are such good punchlines. We expect to spend $1.3 million in this financial year, and a further $3.5 million is provided in the current forward estimates. As can be seen, the State Government will have spent its committed $11.3 million, which highlights the paltry nature of the federal Government’s proposed contribution.
Hon KEN TRAVERS: Wait. Hon Peter Foss always tells us to wait for the punchline. (2) The State Government is committed to the Outback Highway project and has spent $6.5 million of state funds on the road between 1998-99 and 2003-04. We expect - Hon Murray Criddle: That is what we spent in 1998-99. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon KEN TRAVERS: The punchlines get better and they cannot wait for them! The PRESIDENT: The parliamentary secretary will get on with the answer. Hon KEN TRAVERS: But they are such good punchlines. We expect to spend $1.3 million in this financial year, and a further $3.5 million is provided in the current forward estimates. As can be seen, the State Government will have spent its committed $11.3 million, which highlights the paltry nature of the federal Government’s proposed contribution.
(2) The State Government is committed to the Outback Highway project and has spent $6.5 million of state funds on the road between 1998-99 and 2003-04. We expect - Hon Murray Criddle: That is what we spent in 1998-99. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon KEN TRAVERS: The punchlines get better and they cannot wait for them! The PRESIDENT: The parliamentary secretary will get on with the answer. Hon KEN TRAVERS: But they are such good punchlines. We expect to spend $1.3 million in this financial year, and a further $3.5 million is provided in the current forward estimates. As can be seen, the State Government will have spent its committed $11.3 million, which highlights the paltry nature of the federal Government’s proposed contribution.
Hon Murray Criddle: That is what we spent in 1998-99. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon KEN TRAVERS: The punchlines get better and they cannot wait for them! The PRESIDENT: The parliamentary secretary will get on with the answer. Hon KEN TRAVERS: But they are such good punchlines. We expect to spend $1.3 million in this financial year, and a further $3.5 million is provided in the current forward estimates. As can be seen, the State Government will have spent its committed $11.3 million, which highlights the paltry nature of the federal Government’s proposed contribution.
The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon KEN TRAVERS: The punchlines get better and they cannot wait for them! The PRESIDENT: The parliamentary secretary will get on with the answer. Hon KEN TRAVERS: But they are such good punchlines. We expect to spend $1.3 million in this financial year, and a further $3.5 million is provided in the current forward estimates. As can be seen, the State Government will have spent its committed $11.3 million, which highlights the paltry nature of the federal Government’s proposed contribution.
Hon KEN TRAVERS: The punchlines get better and they cannot wait for them! The PRESIDENT: The parliamentary secretary will get on with the answer. Hon KEN TRAVERS: But they are such good punchlines. We expect to spend $1.3 million in this financial year, and a further $3.5 million is provided in the current forward estimates. As can be seen, the State Government will have spent its committed $11.3 million, which highlights the paltry nature of the federal Government’s proposed contribution.
The PRESIDENT: The parliamentary secretary will get on with the answer. Hon KEN TRAVERS: But they are such good punchlines. We expect to spend $1.3 million in this financial year, and a further $3.5 million is provided in the current forward estimates. As can be seen, the State Government will have spent its committed $11.3 million, which highlights the paltry nature of the federal Government’s proposed contribution.
Hon KEN TRAVERS: But they are such good punchlines. We expect to spend $1.3 million in this financial year, and a further $3.5 million is provided in the current forward estimates. As can be seen, the State Government will have spent its committed $11.3 million, which highlights the paltry nature of the federal Government’s proposed contribution.
We expect to spend $1.3 million in this financial year, and a further $3.5 million is provided in the current forward estimates. As can be seen, the State Government will have spent its committed $11.3 million, which highlights the paltry nature of the federal Government’s proposed contribution.

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