❓ Mrs. Harvey questions the Premier about the total cost of the Metronet project, suggesting potential cost blowouts and funding implications. The Premier responds by highlighting Commonwealth funding and cost savings in specific projects, while also criticizing the opposition's past transport project failures.
AnsweredQoN 19Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METRONET —
COSTINGS
19. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Does the Premier not know the total cost of his flagship project at this moment
in time, or is he trying to hide the cost blowouts and associated
cost-of-living increases that will be necessary to fund it?
COSTINGS
19. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Does the Premier not know the total cost of his flagship project at this moment
in time, or is he trying to hide the cost blowouts and associated
cost-of-living increases that will be necessary to fund it?
AnswerView source ↗
The reality is that the state
government has secured over $2 billion in funding from the commonwealth.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The reality
is the state government has secured over $2 billion in funding from the
commonwealth government towards our Metronet program. In other words,
the impact on the state of Western Australia and Western Australian taxpayers
is lower than we expected at the state election and lower than anyone would
have predicted. What is more, as we saw recently with the announcement of the
railcar manufacturing facility, the cost of that has come in $300 million under
budget.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse!
Mr M. McGOWAN : As contracts
are issued, obviously we come up with the exact cost of each project. We have
already issued contracts for the Yanchep line, the Morley–Ellenbrook
line, and railcar manufacturing. Further work will be going on in coming weeks
and months with the Morley–Ellenbrook line and the other railways that
the state government has committed to because we support the project. Clearly,
from the tone of the Leader of the Opposition's questioning, people
ought to be concerned that if the Liberal Party were elected, it would not
build the project. It has form!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : In 2008, it promised the Morley–Ellenbrook
line, but it did not deliver.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse, I call you to order for
the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Metro Area Express light rail was
promised before the 2013 election, but it did not deliver.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman, I call you to order
for the first time,
Mr M. McGOWAN : In Western Australia today we are
seeing a revolution in transport under this government, with more spent on
roads across the city and the regions than ever before, more spent on rail in
the city and the regions than ever before, and a massive improvement in the
options, which will set our city up to deal for decades or perhaps a century to
come with the congestion problems we will face.
government has secured over $2 billion in funding from the commonwealth.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The reality
is the state government has secured over $2 billion in funding from the
commonwealth government towards our Metronet program. In other words,
the impact on the state of Western Australia and Western Australian taxpayers
is lower than we expected at the state election and lower than anyone would
have predicted. What is more, as we saw recently with the announcement of the
railcar manufacturing facility, the cost of that has come in $300 million under
budget.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse!
Mr M. McGOWAN : As contracts
are issued, obviously we come up with the exact cost of each project. We have
already issued contracts for the Yanchep line, the Morley–Ellenbrook
line, and railcar manufacturing. Further work will be going on in coming weeks
and months with the Morley–Ellenbrook line and the other railways that
the state government has committed to because we support the project. Clearly,
from the tone of the Leader of the Opposition's questioning, people
ought to be concerned that if the Liberal Party were elected, it would not
build the project. It has form!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : In 2008, it promised the Morley–Ellenbrook
line, but it did not deliver.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse, I call you to order for
the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Metro Area Express light rail was
promised before the 2013 election, but it did not deliver.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman, I call you to order
for the first time,
Mr M. McGOWAN : In Western Australia today we are
seeing a revolution in transport under this government, with more spent on
roads across the city and the regions than ever before, more spent on rail in
the city and the regions than ever before, and a massive improvement in the
options, which will set our city up to deal for decades or perhaps a century to
come with the congestion problems we will face.
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