❓ Opposition questions the government's expenditure on toll road infrastructure without legislative authority. The Minister defends the spending as research into GPS tracking for commercial vehicles, potentially enabling a freight charge and improved data collection.
AnsweredQoN 389Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TOLL ROADS
389. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the budget papers, which show that the government is
spending $5 million this financial year, $15 million next financial year and
has budgeted another $47 million for 2017–18 on infrastructure to
support toll roads in WA.
(1) Why has the government already spent $5 million
on this project given that it has no legislative authority to implement tolls?
(2) Given that the National Party has stated
that it will not support government legislation to introduce tolls, has the
National Party now changed its mind and indicated support for toll legislation?
389. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the budget papers, which show that the government is
spending $5 million this financial year, $15 million next financial year and
has budgeted another $47 million for 2017–18 on infrastructure to
support toll roads in WA.
(1) Why has the government already spent $5 million
on this project given that it has no legislative authority to implement tolls?
(2) Given that the National Party has stated
that it will not support government legislation to introduce tolls, has the
National Party now changed its mind and indicated support for toll legislation?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) One of the things that we
have been looking at doing is implementing GPS trackers in all commercial
vehicles of 4.5 tonnes and up. We have been looking at this as part of the
process. When we talked to the federal government—this is on the record
already—the federal government agreed to provide funding on the basis
that we establish a freight charge. When we first looked at a freight charge,
it was considered that we would probably go down the e-TAG route with the
gantries over the freeway. I requested the department to explore more modern
technology given the age of e-TAG, and it came back with a report that
suggested that we could implement GPS technology where we could install it in
every vehicle of 4.5 tonnes and up in Western Australia at 50 per cent of the
cost of installing gantries across the total freight corridor, which extends
from Fremantle to Muchea. As part of that process, if we can establish that at
50 per cent of the cost, a huge number of benefits are there for the state.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan!
Mr D.C. NALDER : One of those benefits is that, for the
first time, we would actually have real, live, actual data for planning in Western
Australia. As we continue to look at the state's requirements in
transport needs, the GPS information could provide us with commercial data or
data for commercial vehicles from 4.5 tonnes and up so that we could provide
better planning for our infrastructure products. The second element with regard
to this GPS technology —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Has any of it gone in yet?
The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : The second element with regard to this technology is that if
we can connect it with the port, we can actually get greater efficiencies and
greater connectivity between the Fremantle port and the freight movement across
roads and rail et cetera. I encouraged the department, as part of the budgeting
process, to actually investigate it further. I have had Main Roads Western Australia
undertake a study trip to New Zealand to look at what has been undertaken in
Auckland.
Point of Order
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I asked where
the $5 million was spent and why it was spent without any legislation.
The SPEAKER : I think the
minister has answered the first part, but why was it spent without legislation?
We are running out of time, minister.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
D.C. NALDER : As part of this, I have asked the department to undertake
further studies about GPS technology. It went to New Zealand to look at what
work the company has been doing over there. GPS technology has also been rolled
out in Oregon, in the United States. I requested that Main Roads staff seek an
understanding of that technology so that we can better understand what this
technology can provide for Western Australia. If we can undertake this process
and deliver a lot more benefits for Western Australia, then I believe it was a worthwhile
spend at this point in time. With the work that we have been doing with the
freight industry, it is very supportive of establishing a freight charge on the
basis that it will create a win–win situation for everybody. If we
proceed with the project and as we proceed with Roe 8, the Fremantle tunnel and
the NorthLink project, I have encouraged that we look at establishing a freight
charge, which I believe is warranted in this situation.
have been looking at doing is implementing GPS trackers in all commercial
vehicles of 4.5 tonnes and up. We have been looking at this as part of the
process. When we talked to the federal government—this is on the record
already—the federal government agreed to provide funding on the basis
that we establish a freight charge. When we first looked at a freight charge,
it was considered that we would probably go down the e-TAG route with the
gantries over the freeway. I requested the department to explore more modern
technology given the age of e-TAG, and it came back with a report that
suggested that we could implement GPS technology where we could install it in
every vehicle of 4.5 tonnes and up in Western Australia at 50 per cent of the
cost of installing gantries across the total freight corridor, which extends
from Fremantle to Muchea. As part of that process, if we can establish that at
50 per cent of the cost, a huge number of benefits are there for the state.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan!
Mr D.C. NALDER : One of those benefits is that, for the
first time, we would actually have real, live, actual data for planning in Western
Australia. As we continue to look at the state's requirements in
transport needs, the GPS information could provide us with commercial data or
data for commercial vehicles from 4.5 tonnes and up so that we could provide
better planning for our infrastructure products. The second element with regard
to this GPS technology —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Has any of it gone in yet?
The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : The second element with regard to this technology is that if
we can connect it with the port, we can actually get greater efficiencies and
greater connectivity between the Fremantle port and the freight movement across
roads and rail et cetera. I encouraged the department, as part of the budgeting
process, to actually investigate it further. I have had Main Roads Western Australia
undertake a study trip to New Zealand to look at what has been undertaken in
Auckland.
Point of Order
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I asked where
the $5 million was spent and why it was spent without any legislation.
The SPEAKER : I think the
minister has answered the first part, but why was it spent without legislation?
We are running out of time, minister.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
D.C. NALDER : As part of this, I have asked the department to undertake
further studies about GPS technology. It went to New Zealand to look at what
work the company has been doing over there. GPS technology has also been rolled
out in Oregon, in the United States. I requested that Main Roads staff seek an
understanding of that technology so that we can better understand what this
technology can provide for Western Australia. If we can undertake this process
and deliver a lot more benefits for Western Australia, then I believe it was a worthwhile
spend at this point in time. With the work that we have been doing with the
freight industry, it is very supportive of establishing a freight charge on the
basis that it will create a win–win situation for everybody. If we
proceed with the project and as we proceed with Roe 8, the Fremantle tunnel and
the NorthLink project, I have encouraged that we look at establishing a freight
charge, which I believe is warranted in this situation.
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