❓ Mrs. Harvey questions the Premier about plans to address congestion in southern suburbs while awaiting the Westport Taskforce's outer harbour project. The Premier defends current projects and criticises the previous government's transport priorities.
AnsweredQoN 706Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTPORT TASKFORCE —
ROE 8 AND 9
706. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I refer to the Westport Taskforce
report that says it will take 10 years to build the outer harbour. What is the
Premier's plan to deal with the ever-worsening congestion and road
safety in the southern suburbs in the meantime?
ROE 8 AND 9
706. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I refer to the Westport Taskforce
report that says it will take 10 years to build the outer harbour. What is the
Premier's plan to deal with the ever-worsening congestion and road
safety in the southern suburbs in the meantime?
AnswerView source ↗
Firstly,
can I express my appreciation to Nicole Lockwood and the team who have produced
the work on Westport. I thank them for their comprehensive analysis of the
issues. The report has recommended that five options be considered. Those
options will be considered for the remainder of this year and, ultimately, the
report will make some final recommendations after that. Obviously, the
government will await that point in time before making a final decision on what
the preferred course is. I would like to commend Westport for looking at the
issues comprehensively.
In
the meantime, of course, we are doing all sorts of things. The upgrade to High
Street is one thing that was never done by any former government, and we are
doing it. The new traffic bridge across the river is another thing we are
doing.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : As the member might
recall, when we came into office, I went to speak to then Prime Minister Turnbull and said that spending $1.6 billion on a single piece of road of about
10 kilometres—maybe a bit shorter—that stopped three kilometres
short of Fremantle port is a waste of money, and the last government did not do
it. We got that money and spent it on multiple projects across Perth and the
regions, such as the widening of Armadale Road and the Armadale Road bridge.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Member
for Vasse!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Also, there is
the widening of the freeway, the smart freeways, and the improvements to Karel
Avenue—all over the place.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse!
Mr M. McGOWAN : On top of
that, we are better supporting freight on rail.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the first time. I give only three warnings.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Now we have had this
huge increase in container traffic on rail. It was back at about nine per cent when members opposite were in office.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is
so animated these days! I have not seen the member this animated since he
challenged Colin Barnett for the leadership!
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : One of the reasons
the member challenged Colin Barnett for the leadership was his distress —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Premier, if you
are going to give it, you have to take it. Member for Bateman, I call you to
order for the first time. I warned you three times.
Mr M. McGOWAN : That is a very
wise ruling. One of the reasons the member challenged Colin Barnett was his
distress at the fact that in eight and a half years, his government did not
commit to or build the Roe 8 project.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : There are
multiple things that this government is doing to deal with freight in the city.
Ms S.F. McGurk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Fremantle!
Mr M. McGOWAN : There are huge
increases in freight on rail—something ignored by members opposite when
they were in government. In fact, members opposite ignored rail very
comprehensively. They were comprehensive ignorers of rail across the state.
That is what members opposite were and that is what they remain. They remain
opposed to all the rail lines that we have funded, committed to and will
shortly commence.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Members opposite hate
Metronet and all the things we are doing. I note that last night Dale Alcock endorsed Metronet and said that we needed more rail. He said we needed to build
these rail lines. He supports our plans for rail and more density. Members
opposite oppose density and rail. In fact, it is hard to think of anything they
support apart from toll roads. Toll roads get a tick from the Liberal Party.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
right!
Mr M. McGOWAN : This
government has put in place all sorts of initiatives to comprehensively deal
with the situation we face, considering we inherited a situation about which
the last government had done nothing.
can I express my appreciation to Nicole Lockwood and the team who have produced
the work on Westport. I thank them for their comprehensive analysis of the
issues. The report has recommended that five options be considered. Those
options will be considered for the remainder of this year and, ultimately, the
report will make some final recommendations after that. Obviously, the
government will await that point in time before making a final decision on what
the preferred course is. I would like to commend Westport for looking at the
issues comprehensively.
In
the meantime, of course, we are doing all sorts of things. The upgrade to High
Street is one thing that was never done by any former government, and we are
doing it. The new traffic bridge across the river is another thing we are
doing.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : As the member might
recall, when we came into office, I went to speak to then Prime Minister Turnbull and said that spending $1.6 billion on a single piece of road of about
10 kilometres—maybe a bit shorter—that stopped three kilometres
short of Fremantle port is a waste of money, and the last government did not do
it. We got that money and spent it on multiple projects across Perth and the
regions, such as the widening of Armadale Road and the Armadale Road bridge.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Member
for Vasse!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Also, there is
the widening of the freeway, the smart freeways, and the improvements to Karel
Avenue—all over the place.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse!
Mr M. McGOWAN : On top of
that, we are better supporting freight on rail.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the first time. I give only three warnings.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Now we have had this
huge increase in container traffic on rail. It was back at about nine per cent when members opposite were in office.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is
so animated these days! I have not seen the member this animated since he
challenged Colin Barnett for the leadership!
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : One of the reasons
the member challenged Colin Barnett for the leadership was his distress —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Premier, if you
are going to give it, you have to take it. Member for Bateman, I call you to
order for the first time. I warned you three times.
Mr M. McGOWAN : That is a very
wise ruling. One of the reasons the member challenged Colin Barnett was his
distress at the fact that in eight and a half years, his government did not
commit to or build the Roe 8 project.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : There are
multiple things that this government is doing to deal with freight in the city.
Ms S.F. McGurk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Fremantle!
Mr M. McGOWAN : There are huge
increases in freight on rail—something ignored by members opposite when
they were in government. In fact, members opposite ignored rail very
comprehensively. They were comprehensive ignorers of rail across the state.
That is what members opposite were and that is what they remain. They remain
opposed to all the rail lines that we have funded, committed to and will
shortly commence.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Members opposite hate
Metronet and all the things we are doing. I note that last night Dale Alcock endorsed Metronet and said that we needed more rail. He said we needed to build
these rail lines. He supports our plans for rail and more density. Members
opposite oppose density and rail. In fact, it is hard to think of anything they
support apart from toll roads. Toll roads get a tick from the Liberal Party.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
right!
Mr M. McGOWAN : This
government has put in place all sorts of initiatives to comprehensively deal
with the situation we face, considering we inherited a situation about which
the last government had done nothing.
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