❓ Question regarding the use and effectiveness of government consultants under the previous Liberal-National government, answered with criticism of past transport planning and promotion of current government's Metronet plan.
AnsweredQoN 58Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS
58. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the chaotic and prolific
use of consultants that was a particular characteristic of the previous Liberal–National
government. Can the minister outline some of the specific work carried out by
consultants over the past 18 months and what that work has actually achieved
for taxpayers?
58. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the chaotic and prolific
use of consultants that was a particular characteristic of the previous Liberal–National
government. Can the minister outline some of the specific work carried out by
consultants over the past 18 months and what that work has actually achieved
for taxpayers?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Mirrabooka
for her attention to question time and that very quick question! Of course, the
member for Mirrabooka is correct about the chaotic ad hoc approach that the
previous government had to transport planning in this state. We saw it all over
the place. That meant millions of dollars wasted on documents, consultants and
plans that absolutely disappeared.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The latest
consultants' report —
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Mr Speaker —
The SPEAKER : Minister, I call
the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Over the past we saw extraordinary
expenditure on key projects that never got off the ground or that the
government changed its mind on. Remember the sale of Fremantle Ports Authority?
There was $14 million wasted on that process. With taxi reform, hundreds of
thousands of dollars was spent on consultants. When we won government, there
was absolutely no plan forward and we had to start from scratch. Of course,
there was Metro Area Express light rail, which the government committed to at
the 2013 election. Remember that it kept changing. There was MAX, and then MAX
part 1 and 2, and then there was ''MAX on wheels''. It completely
changed time and time again. I learnt from my department that feasibility
studies were done on ''MAX on wheels'', and at the same time the
current member for Bateman was out there saying that the government preferred a
heavy rail solution. At the same time the former government was employing
consultants —
Mr D.C. Nalder : Table that!
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman, you cannot table
something that is not here.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Reports were done and I am getting
them delivered. Once I get them delivered, I will show them to the member for
Bateman, given this happened under his government at the same time that the
member was out there talking about heavy rail. There was $25 million wasted on
MAX on the former government's watch because it had no plan. We have a plan
and it is called Metronet. I am glad that the federal government is supporting
our plan. The only group in the whole state that does not support it is the
opposition. We know that the opposition does not support the rail line to
Ellenbrook, but then I heard Leader of the Opposition's comments when
he was asked about Byford—the much talked about extension of the
Armadale rail line to Byford. When asked about Byford, what was the Leader of
the Opposition's answer? It was, ''Byford—I do not know
much about that.''
Mr F.M. Logan : ''Where is it?''
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : ''Where is it? Where is Byford?''
Ask the member for Darling Range; he knows where Byford is. The opposition
leader does not support the Ellenbrook rail line. Does he support the Yanchep
rail extension?
Dr M.D. Nahan : Is there a business case for Byford?
No.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : No, no; he does not support the
extension to Yanchep. Does the Leader of the Opposition support the Thornlie to
Cockburn route?
The SPEAKER : Minister!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The former government committed to it.
Where is its business case?
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The former government committed to it,
but its business case has not been submitted!
Dr M.D. Nahan : You've got it; release it.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The Leader of the Opposition should
release it. He did so much work on it, he should release it.
Dr M.D. Nahan : There is no business case for
Ellenbrook; there is no business case for Byford.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The Leader of the Opposition does not
support the extension to Yanchep. I just want to clarify: does the Leader of
the Opposition support the Thornlie to Cockburn route?
Dr M.D. Nahan : We committed to it in the election.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : So where is the business case?
Dr M.D. Nahan : There is one.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Give it back! Where is it? The Leader
of the Opposition does not support the Ellenbrook rail line and now we know
that he does not know where Byford is. That is what we know. That is why the
former government did not get any proper funding from the commonwealth government:
it had no plan and it had no commitment to rail in WA.
for her attention to question time and that very quick question! Of course, the
member for Mirrabooka is correct about the chaotic ad hoc approach that the
previous government had to transport planning in this state. We saw it all over
the place. That meant millions of dollars wasted on documents, consultants and
plans that absolutely disappeared.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The latest
consultants' report —
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Mr Speaker —
The SPEAKER : Minister, I call
the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Over the past we saw extraordinary
expenditure on key projects that never got off the ground or that the
government changed its mind on. Remember the sale of Fremantle Ports Authority?
There was $14 million wasted on that process. With taxi reform, hundreds of
thousands of dollars was spent on consultants. When we won government, there
was absolutely no plan forward and we had to start from scratch. Of course,
there was Metro Area Express light rail, which the government committed to at
the 2013 election. Remember that it kept changing. There was MAX, and then MAX
part 1 and 2, and then there was ''MAX on wheels''. It completely
changed time and time again. I learnt from my department that feasibility
studies were done on ''MAX on wheels'', and at the same time the
current member for Bateman was out there saying that the government preferred a
heavy rail solution. At the same time the former government was employing
consultants —
Mr D.C. Nalder : Table that!
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman, you cannot table
something that is not here.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Reports were done and I am getting
them delivered. Once I get them delivered, I will show them to the member for
Bateman, given this happened under his government at the same time that the
member was out there talking about heavy rail. There was $25 million wasted on
MAX on the former government's watch because it had no plan. We have a plan
and it is called Metronet. I am glad that the federal government is supporting
our plan. The only group in the whole state that does not support it is the
opposition. We know that the opposition does not support the rail line to
Ellenbrook, but then I heard Leader of the Opposition's comments when
he was asked about Byford—the much talked about extension of the
Armadale rail line to Byford. When asked about Byford, what was the Leader of
the Opposition's answer? It was, ''Byford—I do not know
much about that.''
Mr F.M. Logan : ''Where is it?''
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : ''Where is it? Where is Byford?''
Ask the member for Darling Range; he knows where Byford is. The opposition
leader does not support the Ellenbrook rail line. Does he support the Yanchep
rail extension?
Dr M.D. Nahan : Is there a business case for Byford?
No.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : No, no; he does not support the
extension to Yanchep. Does the Leader of the Opposition support the Thornlie to
Cockburn route?
The SPEAKER : Minister!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The former government committed to it.
Where is its business case?
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The former government committed to it,
but its business case has not been submitted!
Dr M.D. Nahan : You've got it; release it.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The Leader of the Opposition should
release it. He did so much work on it, he should release it.
Dr M.D. Nahan : There is no business case for
Ellenbrook; there is no business case for Byford.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The Leader of the Opposition does not
support the extension to Yanchep. I just want to clarify: does the Leader of
the Opposition support the Thornlie to Cockburn route?
Dr M.D. Nahan : We committed to it in the election.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : So where is the business case?
Dr M.D. Nahan : There is one.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Give it back! Where is it? The Leader
of the Opposition does not support the Ellenbrook rail line and now we know
that he does not know where Byford is. That is what we know. That is why the
former government did not get any proper funding from the commonwealth government:
it had no plan and it had no commitment to rail in WA.
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