Opposition asks the Premier about committing to Roe 8 and 9 to address road congestion, given the Fremantle Inner Harbour's continued use. The Premier rejects the proposal, citing cost, inefficiency, and the Opposition's alleged support for toll roads.

AnsweredQoN 1120Legislative Assembly
Asked
10 December 2019
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

WESTPORT TASKFORCE —
FREMANTLE INNER PORT
1120. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Given it is clear to everyone that the inner harbour will be required for at
least 10 years, will the Premier now commit to delivering Roe 8 and Roe 9 to
deal with road safety and congestion that exists now —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I am on
my feet. Start again.
Ms
L. METTAM : Given it is clear to
everyone that the inner harbour will be required for at least 10 years, will
the Premier now commit to delivering Roe 8 and Roe 9 to deal with road
safety and congestion in the southern suburbs, which exists now?

AnswerView source ↗

I have answered this question on
numerous occasions. We had a state election and this was one of the important issues. Obviously, the people of the southern
suburbs worked out that building a $2 billion highway that stops a few kilometres short of the port will not fix the problem. I do not know why the
member cannot process that simple fact, particularly when the port will fill.
It is an older piece of infrastructure and all sorts of other road infrastructure
would need to be put in place—Curtin Avenue, Stirling Highway, parts of
Stock Road and Leach Highway need to be doubled in size and new bridges need to
be put in as part of it. It will cost at least $7 billion to $10 billion if one wants to proceed with Fremantle port as the
long-term, sole option. Therein is the problem that the Liberal Party does not seem to understand.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : The other point is
that the Leader of the Opposition said that she wants to make Roe 8 and 9 a toll road. We do not support toll roads.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : That is what
the Leader of the Opposition said. There are these things called transcripts
that come out after one says something on radio. That is what the Leader of the
Opposition said. We are not supporting toll roads. Western Australia has not
had a history of toll roads. Clearly, the Liberal Party wants to have toll
roads. It wants to sell off our electricity assets. It has not learnt anything
in its time in opposition, and that says to me that it needs a lot longer in
opposition to learn a few things.

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