❓ Hon Steve Martin questions the Minister regarding the Westport Business Case Summary, specifically seeking detailed economic analysis and input figures. The Minister declines to provide the information, citing Cabinet-in-confidence and commercially sensitive information, while promoting the 'Westport Now' option and referencing a past refusal by the Liberal Party regarding the Forrestfield-Airport Link project.
AnsweredQoN 636Legislative Council
Asked
18 September 2025
Member
Portfolio
Deputy Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Transport; Sport and Recreation
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Westport Business Case Summary published in November 2024, and page 32 in relation to economic analysis which states "detailed economic analysis has shown that the benefit to cost ratio (BCR) of moving container trade to Kwinana by the late 2030s was over 4.0 [Applying a 4% discount rate] (with BCRs over 1.0 demonstrating that the benefits outweigh costs)", and I ask: (a) what additional information can the Minister provide in relation to this detailed economic analysis; (b) can the Minister provide the input figures used to calculate the 4.0 result; (c) if no to (b), why not; (d) if no to (b), can the Minister provide anything else along those lines to enable a better understanding of the mathematical inputs used to develop that business case result; (e) if no to (d), why not; (f) noting that this document is a business case summary, has the full business case report been published; (g) if no to (f), can the Minister table it; (h) if no to (g), why not; (i) if no to (f), are there any plans to publish the full business case report; (j) if yes to (i), when; and (k) if no to (i), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 October 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Transport; Sport and Recreation
Response time
4 days
(a)-(k) As previously advised, the Westport business case is considered Cabinet-in-confidence and contains commercially sensitive information which cannot be released publicly.
The ‘Westport Now’ option represents the most sensible and responsible approach for planning the future of container trade in WA. Delaying action on Westport will put WA’s economy at risk, impose massive costs on Western Australians, threaten jobs, make household goods more expensive and increase uncertainty for businesses.
I remind the Member that successive leaders of the Liberal Party refused to allow this Government – the one responsible for constructing and opening it – access to the business case for the Forrestfield–Airport Link project.
The ‘Westport Now’ option represents the most sensible and responsible approach for planning the future of container trade in WA. Delaying action on Westport will put WA’s economy at risk, impose massive costs on Western Australians, threaten jobs, make household goods more expensive and increase uncertainty for businesses.
I remind the Member that successive leaders of the Liberal Party refused to allow this Government – the one responsible for constructing and opening it – access to the business case for the Forrestfield–Airport Link project.
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