Hon Ken Travers asks about funding for the Greenbushes railway upgrade. Hon Simon O’Brien responds that the matter is under review, criticising the previous government's handling of the project and highlighting existing funds and a Liberal Party pledge.

AnsweredQoN 86Legislative Council
Asked
25 November 2008
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

GREENBUSHES RAILWAY — UPGRADE 86. Hon KEN TRAVERS to the Minister for Transport: (1) Can the minister advise whether the government has allocated funds to commence work on the upgrades to the Greenbushes railway? (2) If yes, when is work expected to commence? (3) If no to (1), when does he expect funds to be allocated? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for his question. (1)-(3) I am currently reviewing this matter. As I look at the issue and review the actions of my predecessor and the then Labor government’s promises on this matter, the more I find and the more concerned I am about what went on under the former government. Some funds have been provided in the forward estimates for the reactivation of the Greenbushes railway. In addition, the Liberal Party pledged $5 million during the election campaign, which I believe was a pledge to match the then government’s offer to reopen the line. That $5 million was to be applied to the task if it was sufficient to open the railway again. I am most concerned about what I am now starting to find in some of the undertakings given by the previous government. I will make further announcements about that matter in due course. However, my friend opposite should be a bit careful that he is not being altogether too clever on this matter, because his record on this is not looking good.
GREENBUSHES RAILWAY — UPGRADE
(1) Can the minister advise whether the government has allocated funds to commence work on the upgrades to the Greenbushes railway? (2) If yes, when is work expected to commence? (3) If no to (1), when does he expect funds to be allocated? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for his question. (1)-(3) I am currently reviewing this matter. As I look at the issue and review the actions of my predecessor and the then Labor government’s promises on this matter, the more I find and the more concerned I am about what went on under the former government. Some funds have been provided in the forward estimates for the reactivation of the Greenbushes railway. In addition, the Liberal Party pledged $5 million during the election campaign, which I believe was a pledge to match the then government’s offer to reopen the line. That $5 million was to be applied to the task if it was sufficient to open the railway again. I am most concerned about what I am now starting to find in some of the undertakings given by the previous government. I will make further announcements about that matter in due course. However, my friend opposite should be a bit careful that he is not being altogether too clever on this matter, because his record on this is not looking good.
(2) If yes, when is work expected to commence? (3) If no to (1), when does he expect funds to be allocated? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for his question. (1)-(3) I am currently reviewing this matter. As I look at the issue and review the actions of my predecessor and the then Labor government’s promises on this matter, the more I find and the more concerned I am about what went on under the former government. Some funds have been provided in the forward estimates for the reactivation of the Greenbushes railway. In addition, the Liberal Party pledged $5 million during the election campaign, which I believe was a pledge to match the then government’s offer to reopen the line. That $5 million was to be applied to the task if it was sufficient to open the railway again. I am most concerned about what I am now starting to find in some of the undertakings given by the previous government. I will make further announcements about that matter in due course. However, my friend opposite should be a bit careful that he is not being altogether too clever on this matter, because his record on this is not looking good.
(3) If no to (1), when does he expect funds to be allocated? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for his question. (1)-(3) I am currently reviewing this matter. As I look at the issue and review the actions of my predecessor and the then Labor government’s promises on this matter, the more I find and the more concerned I am about what went on under the former government. Some funds have been provided in the forward estimates for the reactivation of the Greenbushes railway. In addition, the Liberal Party pledged $5 million during the election campaign, which I believe was a pledge to match the then government’s offer to reopen the line. That $5 million was to be applied to the task if it was sufficient to open the railway again. I am most concerned about what I am now starting to find in some of the undertakings given by the previous government. I will make further announcements about that matter in due course. However, my friend opposite should be a bit careful that he is not being altogether too clever on this matter, because his record on this is not looking good.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for his question. (1)-(3) I am currently reviewing this matter. As I look at the issue and review the actions of my predecessor and the then Labor government’s promises on this matter, the more I find and the more concerned I am about what went on under the former government. Some funds have been provided in the forward estimates for the reactivation of the Greenbushes railway. In addition, the Liberal Party pledged $5 million during the election campaign, which I believe was a pledge to match the then government’s offer to reopen the line. That $5 million was to be applied to the task if it was sufficient to open the railway again. I am most concerned about what I am now starting to find in some of the undertakings given by the previous government. I will make further announcements about that matter in due course. However, my friend opposite should be a bit careful that he is not being altogether too clever on this matter, because his record on this is not looking good.
I thank the honourable member for his question. (1)-(3) I am currently reviewing this matter. As I look at the issue and review the actions of my predecessor and the then Labor government’s promises on this matter, the more I find and the more concerned I am about what went on under the former government. Some funds have been provided in the forward estimates for the reactivation of the Greenbushes railway. In addition, the Liberal Party pledged $5 million during the election campaign, which I believe was a pledge to match the then government’s offer to reopen the line. That $5 million was to be applied to the task if it was sufficient to open the railway again. I am most concerned about what I am now starting to find in some of the undertakings given by the previous government. I will make further announcements about that matter in due course. However, my friend opposite should be a bit careful that he is not being altogether too clever on this matter, because his record on this is not looking good.
(1)-(3) I am currently reviewing this matter. As I look at the issue and review the actions of my predecessor and the then Labor government’s promises on this matter, the more I find and the more concerned I am about what went on under the former government. Some funds have been provided in the forward estimates for the reactivation of the Greenbushes railway. In addition, the Liberal Party pledged $5 million during the election campaign, which I believe was a pledge to match the then government’s offer to reopen the line. That $5 million was to be applied to the task if it was sufficient to open the railway again. I am most concerned about what I am now starting to find in some of the undertakings given by the previous government. I will make further announcements about that matter in due course. However, my friend opposite should be a bit careful that he is not being altogether too clever on this matter, because his record on this is not looking good.

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