❓ Ms Saffioti questions Premier Barnett on conflicting timelines for the Perth Freight Link (specifically Stage 2) given by him and Federal Minister Cormann. Barnett deflects, focusing on Roe 8 and the long-term nature of the overall project.
AnsweredQoN 611Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH
FREIGHT LINK
611. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the
Premier:
I refer to comments by the federal Minister for Finance,
Matthias Cormann, as follows —
''We expect that stage 2 of
the Perth Freight Link will begin next year as agreed between the Australian
Government and the WA State Government,'' �
(1) How do
these comments compare to the Premier's comments last week that the
road will not be built very soon, if at all?
(2) Who is
right—the Premier or Mr Cormann?
FREIGHT LINK
611. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the
Premier:
I refer to comments by the federal Minister for Finance,
Matthias Cormann, as follows —
''We expect that stage 2 of
the Perth Freight Link will begin next year as agreed between the Australian
Government and the WA State Government,'' �
(1) How do
these comments compare to the Premier's comments last week that the
road will not be built very soon, if at all?
(2) Who is
right—the Premier or Mr Cormann?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) That is a silly
question, but I will answer it.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It is.
There are two stages to the freight link. The first stage is
Roe 8, which is essentially ready to go, and that is what I and, obviously, the
minister are concentrating on—to get Roe 8. It goes through the Beeliar
wetlands, so there will no doubt be protests and all sorts of things about
that. But whether there is the Fremantle inner harbour or the Cockburn Sound
outer harbour, we need Roe 8, so that is the priority.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
That is a big project. The second aspect is the link between the end of Roe 8
into Fremantle harbour. The Labor Party talks about having a harbour at
Cockburn Sound. If we made a decision today, it would take at least 10 years
for anything to be built at Cockburn Sound.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
also say that Fremantle port can probably double its current handling of
containers, if not increase beyond that. Fremantle port will continue into the
long term—not just 10 years. It will be there in probably 20, 30 or 40
years' time, so there will need to be an improved connection from the
end of Roe 8 into Fremantle port.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am answering the question.
The final route for that is yet to be determined. Whether it
is above ground or below ground is yet to be determined. Environmental
approvals and all that are yet to be done. All I am saying is that it is a big
project. It will be done properly, but it will take some time. That is what we
are doing. Never before, probably, have there been so many transport projects
underway in metropolitan Perth as there are now.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Count them—look at them.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Never! Never! There are the freeway widening, extensions, the airport
works, the Swan Valley works, Roe 8, the connection to Fremantle—they
are all over the place. The Labor Party did not do it.
question, but I will answer it.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It is.
There are two stages to the freight link. The first stage is
Roe 8, which is essentially ready to go, and that is what I and, obviously, the
minister are concentrating on—to get Roe 8. It goes through the Beeliar
wetlands, so there will no doubt be protests and all sorts of things about
that. But whether there is the Fremantle inner harbour or the Cockburn Sound
outer harbour, we need Roe 8, so that is the priority.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
That is a big project. The second aspect is the link between the end of Roe 8
into Fremantle harbour. The Labor Party talks about having a harbour at
Cockburn Sound. If we made a decision today, it would take at least 10 years
for anything to be built at Cockburn Sound.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
also say that Fremantle port can probably double its current handling of
containers, if not increase beyond that. Fremantle port will continue into the
long term—not just 10 years. It will be there in probably 20, 30 or 40
years' time, so there will need to be an improved connection from the
end of Roe 8 into Fremantle port.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am answering the question.
The final route for that is yet to be determined. Whether it
is above ground or below ground is yet to be determined. Environmental
approvals and all that are yet to be done. All I am saying is that it is a big
project. It will be done properly, but it will take some time. That is what we
are doing. Never before, probably, have there been so many transport projects
underway in metropolitan Perth as there are now.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Count them—look at them.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Never! Never! There are the freeway widening, extensions, the airport
works, the Swan Valley works, Roe 8, the connection to Fremantle—they
are all over the place. The Labor Party did not do it.
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