❓ Opposition questions the Premier regarding a broken promise to build the Ellenbrook rail line by 2015. The Premier defends the decision, citing lack of prior work, insufficient patronage, and prioritization of other transport projects.
AnsweredQoN 198Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELLENBROOK
RAIL LINE — PREMIER'S COMMENTS
198. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the
Premier:
I refer to the Premier's claim on radio this morning.
He said —
I've never lied to the
public in 25 years of politics.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Ms E. Evangel interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Perth, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear this
question in silence.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I
will start again —
Mr J. Norberger interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Joondalup, I call you to order for the second time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I
will start again. I refer to the Premier's claim on radio this morning.
He said —
I've never lied to the
public in 25 years of politics.
I refer to the Premier's promise made to the people
of Ellenbrook and Western Australia on 31 August 2008, and I quote —
''Yes in the longer term
2015, it's a long time away, yes we will build the spur line through
Ellenbrook,'' �
Can the Premier please clarify what he meant in 2008 when he
told Western Australians and the people of Ellenbrook that he would build the
Ellenbrook rail line?
RAIL LINE — PREMIER'S COMMENTS
198. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the
Premier:
I refer to the Premier's claim on radio this morning.
He said —
I've never lied to the
public in 25 years of politics.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Ms E. Evangel interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Perth, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear this
question in silence.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I
will start again —
Mr J. Norberger interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Joondalup, I call you to order for the second time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I
will start again. I refer to the Premier's claim on radio this morning.
He said —
I've never lied to the
public in 25 years of politics.
I refer to the Premier's promise made to the people
of Ellenbrook and Western Australia on 31 August 2008, and I quote —
''Yes in the longer term
2015, it's a long time away, yes we will build the spur line through
Ellenbrook,'' �
Can the Premier please clarify what he meant in 2008 when he
told Western Australians and the people of Ellenbrook that he would build the
Ellenbrook rail line?
AnswerView source ↗
I remember it well. Alan Carpenter, the then Premier, and I think
the member for West Swan as a candidate, went out there with a star picket with
an ''Ellenbrook railway coming soon'' sign, tapped it into the
ground and it fell over, as did the project. In coming to government,
statements were made. The member read out one of them and I think the Liberal
opposition transport spokesman similarly made comments. We had accepted that
the Ellenbrook rail line was a desirable project. We accepted the commitment
made by the Labor government. We came to government and guess what? No work had
been done on it—no work at all.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
We committed money to develop the project and we spent money on the project. I
cannot remember the exact figure, but it was quite a lot—in the
millions of dollars. No work had been done. The patronage was not there —
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : That was a sham announcement, but in opposition we accepted
that the work had been done and that project would be a viable public transport
project.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It was not. Indeed, it is not yet a viable project. Come the
2013 election, I explicitly made it clear that we would not be building the
Ellenbrook rail line in this term of government and I make it clear right now:
we are not committing to that project. We are committing to building the
airport —
Mr
B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The airport project is about to go into construction and we
will build either light rail or a bus rapid transit system to the northern
suburbs. In the last election, we made it very clear that we are not building
the Ellenbrook rail line.
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Only recently in this chamber I said that there are more
important transport projects, particularly in the eastern suburbs, than the
Ellenbrook rail line at this point. The one out to Forrestfield and through the
airport meets that test. Building the Swan Valley bypass, the Perth–Darwin
highway, as it is sometimes called, and the freight link all rate as superior
projects. When I spoke to the City of Swan, I asked, ''What is most
important to you?'' Its first answer was, ''For goodness sake,
dual Gnangara Road'', which is happening.
I think there will be a rail line
through Ellenbrook out toward Muchea as those residential areas develop.
However, we need to have the road infrastructure going out through that north
eastern corridor and for the population to develop before the Ellenbrook line
is built. Once again, in the interests of fairness and accountability, I ask
the Leader of the Opposition: is he committing to the Ellenbrook rail line in
the next election? Is he committing? Please note: no commitment on Ellenbrook.
the member for West Swan as a candidate, went out there with a star picket with
an ''Ellenbrook railway coming soon'' sign, tapped it into the
ground and it fell over, as did the project. In coming to government,
statements were made. The member read out one of them and I think the Liberal
opposition transport spokesman similarly made comments. We had accepted that
the Ellenbrook rail line was a desirable project. We accepted the commitment
made by the Labor government. We came to government and guess what? No work had
been done on it—no work at all.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
We committed money to develop the project and we spent money on the project. I
cannot remember the exact figure, but it was quite a lot—in the
millions of dollars. No work had been done. The patronage was not there —
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : That was a sham announcement, but in opposition we accepted
that the work had been done and that project would be a viable public transport
project.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It was not. Indeed, it is not yet a viable project. Come the
2013 election, I explicitly made it clear that we would not be building the
Ellenbrook rail line in this term of government and I make it clear right now:
we are not committing to that project. We are committing to building the
airport —
Mr
B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The airport project is about to go into construction and we
will build either light rail or a bus rapid transit system to the northern
suburbs. In the last election, we made it very clear that we are not building
the Ellenbrook rail line.
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Only recently in this chamber I said that there are more
important transport projects, particularly in the eastern suburbs, than the
Ellenbrook rail line at this point. The one out to Forrestfield and through the
airport meets that test. Building the Swan Valley bypass, the Perth–Darwin
highway, as it is sometimes called, and the freight link all rate as superior
projects. When I spoke to the City of Swan, I asked, ''What is most
important to you?'' Its first answer was, ''For goodness sake,
dual Gnangara Road'', which is happening.
I think there will be a rail line
through Ellenbrook out toward Muchea as those residential areas develop.
However, we need to have the road infrastructure going out through that north
eastern corridor and for the population to develop before the Ellenbrook line
is built. Once again, in the interests of fairness and accountability, I ask
the Leader of the Opposition: is he committing to the Ellenbrook rail line in
the next election? Is he committing? Please note: no commitment on Ellenbrook.
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