❓ Question regarding the funding of the Geraldton Southern Transport Corridor, specifically asset sales promised by the previous government. The Minister claims the previous government's funding plans were unrealistic and that assets were already earmarked for debt retirement.
AnsweredQoN 134Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GERALDTON SOUTHERN TRANSPORT CORRIDOR
Hon Murray Criddle is reported in The Geraldton Guardian as saying the following about the Geraldton southern transport corridor - “We had no problem sourcing the funds to get this project done,” . . . . “The arrangements were there. As well as the sale of the Leighton Beach marshalling yards there was a list of other asset sales that could have been used to fund the rail. Can the minister advise what is the real situation? Ms MacTIERNAN
Hon Murray Criddle is reported in The Geraldton Guardian as saying the following about the Geraldton southern transport corridor - “We had no problem sourcing the funds to get this project done,” . . . . “The arrangements were there. As well as the sale of the Leighton Beach marshalling yards there was a list of other asset sales that could have been used to fund the rail. Can the minister advise what is the real situation? Ms MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
I was excited when I read this in the newspaper; I thought we were going to be able to find the money to build the southern transport corridor. According to this article, it should not be difficult. I consulted the public servants involved and they tracked down the public servants who were in charge of this area at the relevant time. We told them that we would love to get our paws on the list of assets that could be sold. Unfortunately, we again drew a blank. Apparently, the former Government sought advice about what assets it could sell off to finance the construction of the southern transport corridor. At that time, the rail component of the corridor was estimated to cost about $54 million. The highways and byways of the Geraldton area were searched and all government real estate assets were listed. The result was then doubled and the final figure was $18 million. That was still not nearly enough. A 1999 cabinet submission on this topic referred to Geraldton and contained a prediction that the sale of the Leighton Beach land would generate another $20 million. We know that that project has collapsed in a heap and that we will not raise enough money to pay for the restoration of the dunes. Members opposite blithely said - Mr Board: When are you going to say what you will do? Ms MacTIERNAN: The context in which we intend to meet our election commitments must be understood. Part of that context is that a massive deceit has been perpetrated on the people of this community. They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
“The arrangements were there. As well as the sale of the Leighton Beach marshalling yards there was a list of other asset sales that could have been used to fund the rail.
Ms MacTIERNAN replied: I was excited when I read this in the newspaper; I thought we were going to be able to find the money to build the southern transport corridor. According to this article, it should not be difficult. I consulted the public servants involved and they tracked down the public servants who were in charge of this area at the relevant time. We told them that we would love to get our paws on the list of assets that could be sold. Unfortunately, we again drew a blank. Apparently, the former Government sought advice about what assets it could sell off to finance the construction of the southern transport corridor. At that time, the rail component of the corridor was estimated to cost about $54 million. The highways and byways of the Geraldton area were searched and all government real estate assets were listed. The result was then doubled and the final figure was $18 million. That was still not nearly enough. A 1999 cabinet submission on this topic referred to Geraldton and contained a prediction that the sale of the Leighton Beach land would generate another $20 million. We know that that project has collapsed in a heap and that we will not raise enough money to pay for the restoration of the dunes. Members opposite blithely said - Mr Board: When are you going to say what you will do? Ms MacTIERNAN: The context in which we intend to meet our election commitments must be understood. Part of that context is that a massive deceit has been perpetrated on the people of this community. They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
I was excited when I read this in the newspaper; I thought we were going to be able to find the money to build the southern transport corridor. According to this article, it should not be difficult. I consulted the public servants involved and they tracked down the public servants who were in charge of this area at the relevant time. We told them that we would love to get our paws on the list of assets that could be sold. Unfortunately, we again drew a blank. Apparently, the former Government sought advice about what assets it could sell off to finance the construction of the southern transport corridor. At that time, the rail component of the corridor was estimated to cost about $54 million. The highways and byways of the Geraldton area were searched and all government real estate assets were listed. The result was then doubled and the final figure was $18 million. That was still not nearly enough. A 1999 cabinet submission on this topic referred to Geraldton and contained a prediction that the sale of the Leighton Beach land would generate another $20 million. We know that that project has collapsed in a heap and that we will not raise enough money to pay for the restoration of the dunes. Members opposite blithely said - Mr Board: When are you going to say what you will do? Ms MacTIERNAN: The context in which we intend to meet our election commitments must be understood. Part of that context is that a massive deceit has been perpetrated on the people of this community. They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
Apparently, the former Government sought advice about what assets it could sell off to finance the construction of the southern transport corridor. At that time, the rail component of the corridor was estimated to cost about $54 million. The highways and byways of the Geraldton area were searched and all government real estate assets were listed. The result was then doubled and the final figure was $18 million. That was still not nearly enough. A 1999 cabinet submission on this topic referred to Geraldton and contained a prediction that the sale of the Leighton Beach land would generate another $20 million. We know that that project has collapsed in a heap and that we will not raise enough money to pay for the restoration of the dunes. Members opposite blithely said - Mr Board: When are you going to say what you will do? Ms MacTIERNAN: The context in which we intend to meet our election commitments must be understood. Part of that context is that a massive deceit has been perpetrated on the people of this community. They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
A 1999 cabinet submission on this topic referred to Geraldton and contained a prediction that the sale of the Leighton Beach land would generate another $20 million. We know that that project has collapsed in a heap and that we will not raise enough money to pay for the restoration of the dunes. Members opposite blithely said - Mr Board: When are you going to say what you will do? Ms MacTIERNAN: The context in which we intend to meet our election commitments must be understood. Part of that context is that a massive deceit has been perpetrated on the people of this community. They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
Mr Board: When are you going to say what you will do? Ms MacTIERNAN: The context in which we intend to meet our election commitments must be understood. Part of that context is that a massive deceit has been perpetrated on the people of this community. They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
Ms MacTIERNAN: The context in which we intend to meet our election commitments must be understood. Part of that context is that a massive deceit has been perpetrated on the people of this community. They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
“The arrangements were there. As well as the sale of the Leighton Beach marshalling yards there was a list of other asset sales that could have been used to fund the rail.
Ms MacTIERNAN replied: I was excited when I read this in the newspaper; I thought we were going to be able to find the money to build the southern transport corridor. According to this article, it should not be difficult. I consulted the public servants involved and they tracked down the public servants who were in charge of this area at the relevant time. We told them that we would love to get our paws on the list of assets that could be sold. Unfortunately, we again drew a blank. Apparently, the former Government sought advice about what assets it could sell off to finance the construction of the southern transport corridor. At that time, the rail component of the corridor was estimated to cost about $54 million. The highways and byways of the Geraldton area were searched and all government real estate assets were listed. The result was then doubled and the final figure was $18 million. That was still not nearly enough. A 1999 cabinet submission on this topic referred to Geraldton and contained a prediction that the sale of the Leighton Beach land would generate another $20 million. We know that that project has collapsed in a heap and that we will not raise enough money to pay for the restoration of the dunes. Members opposite blithely said - Mr Board: When are you going to say what you will do? Ms MacTIERNAN: The context in which we intend to meet our election commitments must be understood. Part of that context is that a massive deceit has been perpetrated on the people of this community. They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
I was excited when I read this in the newspaper; I thought we were going to be able to find the money to build the southern transport corridor. According to this article, it should not be difficult. I consulted the public servants involved and they tracked down the public servants who were in charge of this area at the relevant time. We told them that we would love to get our paws on the list of assets that could be sold. Unfortunately, we again drew a blank. Apparently, the former Government sought advice about what assets it could sell off to finance the construction of the southern transport corridor. At that time, the rail component of the corridor was estimated to cost about $54 million. The highways and byways of the Geraldton area were searched and all government real estate assets were listed. The result was then doubled and the final figure was $18 million. That was still not nearly enough. A 1999 cabinet submission on this topic referred to Geraldton and contained a prediction that the sale of the Leighton Beach land would generate another $20 million. We know that that project has collapsed in a heap and that we will not raise enough money to pay for the restoration of the dunes. Members opposite blithely said - Mr Board: When are you going to say what you will do? Ms MacTIERNAN: The context in which we intend to meet our election commitments must be understood. Part of that context is that a massive deceit has been perpetrated on the people of this community. They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
Apparently, the former Government sought advice about what assets it could sell off to finance the construction of the southern transport corridor. At that time, the rail component of the corridor was estimated to cost about $54 million. The highways and byways of the Geraldton area were searched and all government real estate assets were listed. The result was then doubled and the final figure was $18 million. That was still not nearly enough. A 1999 cabinet submission on this topic referred to Geraldton and contained a prediction that the sale of the Leighton Beach land would generate another $20 million. We know that that project has collapsed in a heap and that we will not raise enough money to pay for the restoration of the dunes. Members opposite blithely said - Mr Board: When are you going to say what you will do? Ms MacTIERNAN: The context in which we intend to meet our election commitments must be understood. Part of that context is that a massive deceit has been perpetrated on the people of this community. They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
A 1999 cabinet submission on this topic referred to Geraldton and contained a prediction that the sale of the Leighton Beach land would generate another $20 million. We know that that project has collapsed in a heap and that we will not raise enough money to pay for the restoration of the dunes. Members opposite blithely said - Mr Board: When are you going to say what you will do? Ms MacTIERNAN: The context in which we intend to meet our election commitments must be understood. Part of that context is that a massive deceit has been perpetrated on the people of this community. They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
Mr Board: When are you going to say what you will do? Ms MacTIERNAN: The context in which we intend to meet our election commitments must be understood. Part of that context is that a massive deceit has been perpetrated on the people of this community. They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
Ms MacTIERNAN: The context in which we intend to meet our election commitments must be understood. Part of that context is that a massive deceit has been perpetrated on the people of this community. They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
They produced a list of all the other Westrail assets that could be sold. Guess what? Each and every one has been identified for sale by Treasury for debt retirement and has been factored into the forward estimates. Even if we had $54 million worth of assets available for sale, they have already been dealt with by the previous Government and accounted for in the forward estimates. We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
We will do the job and find the money to build the southern transport corridor. However, members opposite should not tell us that they were going to do it. They were not and they knew they did not have the money to do it.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.