❓ Mr Punch asks about the Regional Road Safety Program's impact on safety, jobs, and business, and seeks justification for federal funding. The Minister highlights the program's national recognition, economic stimulus potential, and criticises the previous government's efforts.
AnsweredQoN 129Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REGIONAL ROAD SAFETY
PROGRAM
129. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the record number of
job-creating infrastructure projects and initiatives that the McGowan Labor government has secured on the latest Infrastructure
Australia priority list, including the regional road safety program.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house how the regional road safety program would not only
improve safety on country roads but also create jobs and support business?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house the reasons that the federal government should
join with the state in funding the program and help deliver this important road
safety initiative?
PROGRAM
129. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the record number of
job-creating infrastructure projects and initiatives that the McGowan Labor government has secured on the latest Infrastructure
Australia priority list, including the regional road safety program.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house how the regional road safety program would not only
improve safety on country roads but also create jobs and support business?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house the reasons that the federal government should
join with the state in funding the program and help deliver this important road
safety initiative?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Bunbury for that question. Not only do we have a record
number of contracts out there—both Metronet and road projects—but
we are also working with Infrastructure Australia to get more projects rolled
out into the future. This year, as the member highlighted, there is a record
number of Western Australian projects on the
national list—23 projects. These include transport and water projects across government. We have been doing the work to get those projects noticed
nationally. That is what we have been doing,
unlike the previous government, which did not do the work to get those projects
on the national agenda.
One
of the most pleasing results of this year's list was the regional road
safety program, which has now been recognised as a national priority. We
see this as a significant priority for spending in Western Australia, and we
have raised this project with the federal government over the past year and in
more recent months. We see it as part of what we believe will be a great
economic stimulus package for Western Australia. This spending can happen now;
it can be rolled out now. We have the approvals, we have the contractors in
place, and we can go out and spend more money in regional Western Australia,
making our roads safer. We will see greater employment in regional WA. We will
see small businesses supported by the fact that there will be more workers out
there, rolling out this program.
Ms L. Mettam : What's
the priority?
The SPEAKER : My priority is
to call you to order for the first time, member for Vasse.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It is great
to hear from the member for Vasse. Does she support shutting down the railcar
manufacturing industry?
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the second time.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : I call you to
order for the third time, member for Vasse. You are not setting a good example.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : The member for Vasse
does not support regional road safety, members. We know that. She does not support regional road safety. We want to make it a priority, and we have
made it a priority.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, do you want to go home early? Just tell me, and I will send you on your
way.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : If the member
for Vasse wants to interject, does she support her leader's comments on
the railcar manufacturing industry? One more comment. Does she support her
leader's comments on the railcar manufacturing industry?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : She is not
answering now, members. Does she support railcar manufacturing in WA? She does
not support railcar manufacturing, just like her leader did not in what would
be one of the worst presentations on Business
News this morning, as I understand
it. We will have more to come on some of the Leader of the Opposition's comments in relation to Business News this morning.
In
relation to road safety, we are working really well with the commonwealth
government and engaging with federal ministers, unlike the previous
government, which did not do the work, did not do the business cases and did
not get projects on the list. We are doing the work, and we believe this
project will not only save lives but also create jobs and provide economic
stimulus throughout Western Australia.
thank the member for Bunbury for that question. Not only do we have a record
number of contracts out there—both Metronet and road projects—but
we are also working with Infrastructure Australia to get more projects rolled
out into the future. This year, as the member highlighted, there is a record
number of Western Australian projects on the
national list—23 projects. These include transport and water projects across government. We have been doing the work to get those projects noticed
nationally. That is what we have been doing,
unlike the previous government, which did not do the work to get those projects
on the national agenda.
One
of the most pleasing results of this year's list was the regional road
safety program, which has now been recognised as a national priority. We
see this as a significant priority for spending in Western Australia, and we
have raised this project with the federal government over the past year and in
more recent months. We see it as part of what we believe will be a great
economic stimulus package for Western Australia. This spending can happen now;
it can be rolled out now. We have the approvals, we have the contractors in
place, and we can go out and spend more money in regional Western Australia,
making our roads safer. We will see greater employment in regional WA. We will
see small businesses supported by the fact that there will be more workers out
there, rolling out this program.
Ms L. Mettam : What's
the priority?
The SPEAKER : My priority is
to call you to order for the first time, member for Vasse.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It is great
to hear from the member for Vasse. Does she support shutting down the railcar
manufacturing industry?
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the second time.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : I call you to
order for the third time, member for Vasse. You are not setting a good example.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : The member for Vasse
does not support regional road safety, members. We know that. She does not support regional road safety. We want to make it a priority, and we have
made it a priority.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, do you want to go home early? Just tell me, and I will send you on your
way.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : If the member
for Vasse wants to interject, does she support her leader's comments on
the railcar manufacturing industry? One more comment. Does she support her
leader's comments on the railcar manufacturing industry?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : She is not
answering now, members. Does she support railcar manufacturing in WA? She does
not support railcar manufacturing, just like her leader did not in what would
be one of the worst presentations on Business
News this morning, as I understand
it. We will have more to come on some of the Leader of the Opposition's comments in relation to Business News this morning.
In
relation to road safety, we are working really well with the commonwealth
government and engaging with federal ministers, unlike the previous
government, which did not do the work, did not do the business cases and did
not get projects on the list. We are doing the work, and we believe this
project will not only save lives but also create jobs and provide economic
stimulus throughout Western Australia.
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