❓ Mr. O'Gorman questions the Minister for Transport about a potential shortage of railcars and delivery delays. The Minister deflects, blaming the previous government and engaging in personal attacks, failing to directly answer the question about the railcar shortage.
AnsweredQoN 115Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
mitchell freeway —
NORTHERN SUBURBS rail line — CONGESTION
115. Mr A.P. O'GORMAN to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the congestion crisis on the Mitchell Freeway and
on the Clarkson rail line.
(1) Can the
minister confirm the Public Transport Authority advice that the number of
railcars ordered will be at least five short of the number needed to meet the
increased congestion?
(2) Has the
minister made approaches to the suppliers of the ordered railcars to advance
the delivery dates to cope with that congestion; and, if not, why not?
(3) Given the
urgency of the congestion problems facing Perth, will the minister commit to
contacting the railcar suppliers to advance all delivery dates; and, if not,
why not?
NORTHERN SUBURBS rail line — CONGESTION
115. Mr A.P. O'GORMAN to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the congestion crisis on the Mitchell Freeway and
on the Clarkson rail line.
(1) Can the
minister confirm the Public Transport Authority advice that the number of
railcars ordered will be at least five short of the number needed to meet the
increased congestion?
(2) Has the
minister made approaches to the suppliers of the ordered railcars to advance
the delivery dates to cope with that congestion; and, if not, why not?
(3) Given the
urgency of the congestion problems facing Perth, will the minister commit to
contacting the railcar suppliers to advance all delivery dates; and, if not,
why not?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) The
basic thrust of this question from the member for Joondalup is that we can
deliver railcars ahead of the time lines on which companies can make them. The
unfortunate reality —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : It depends on when you place the order, does it not?
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : We placed the order for the railcars last year. I met with
Downer EDI, or Bombardier—the company that makes them—along
with senior officials of the PTA. We asked them to give us advice as to the
shortest possible time line to deliver those railcars. The shortest possible
time line to deliver those railcars is the first half of 2013. I asked them why—which
is the question the member asked me—and they said there are some quite
complicated components that they have to order from offshore, and that is
physically how long it takes to deliver the railcars. If I could physically get
the railcars here earlier, I would. But the facts are that that is how long it
takes to produce railcars. I cannot pluck a figure out of the air. I am aware
that the former government, in its rush to get railcars here in the early days
of a previous order, had railcars delivered that could not be used, claimed
they were here, parked them on some train track somewhere, and subsequently had
them fitted out.
Mr
M. McGowan : You're making it up as you go along!
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : I am not making it up at all.
Mr
M. McGowan : You couldn't keep the trains running last week, and now
you're making things up!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
What am I making up—the youth unemployment rate? What am I making up—the
elephant from the Perth Zoo?
Mr M. McGowan :
Well, you look like it!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you to order for the
third time today.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Leader of the Opposition, that is right. I do have a challenge around the
waistline, member for Rockingham! I do not think that is hidden from anybody.
But I am working on it with my morning attendance at boxing at Bill's
gym in Northbridge, and perhaps the member for Rockingham and I could meet
there one morning —
Point of Order
Mr A.P. O'GORMAN :
Mr Speaker —
Mr M.P. Whitely : I'm
enjoying it!
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Member for
Kimberley, I am going to instruct you to be more careful in the words you
choose to use in this place. I think you had a point of order, member for
Joondalup.
Mr
A.P. O'GORMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I clearly asked the question
in three parts. The first part was: are we going to be five cars short when
they are delivered? The minister has not addressed that, and he is
deteriorating into clown activities rather than answering a very serious
question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : Let me explain it again. Last year, this government committed
$164 million to procure trains. Those trains will arrive —
Mr
A.P. O'Gorman : Will you be five short when they are all delivered?
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : I will be very clear on this, member for Joondalup, because
the member needs to understand it, so I will explain it slowly. Those trains
were ordered in 2011. The lead time is approximately two years. When we ordered
those trains, we were told by the opposition that they should have been here
last year or the year before. If they should have been here last year or the
year before, members opposite should have ordered them when they were in
government. Those trains will arrive here on the shortest possible lead time.
I will just close with this and get
back to the Leader of the Opposition's reflection on my portly
challenge. If we do meet in the ring, Leader of the Opposition, I am concerned
that if your feet keep growing at the rate that Alston has them growing, you
will not fit in the ring with me!
basic thrust of this question from the member for Joondalup is that we can
deliver railcars ahead of the time lines on which companies can make them. The
unfortunate reality —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : It depends on when you place the order, does it not?
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : We placed the order for the railcars last year. I met with
Downer EDI, or Bombardier—the company that makes them—along
with senior officials of the PTA. We asked them to give us advice as to the
shortest possible time line to deliver those railcars. The shortest possible
time line to deliver those railcars is the first half of 2013. I asked them why—which
is the question the member asked me—and they said there are some quite
complicated components that they have to order from offshore, and that is
physically how long it takes to deliver the railcars. If I could physically get
the railcars here earlier, I would. But the facts are that that is how long it
takes to produce railcars. I cannot pluck a figure out of the air. I am aware
that the former government, in its rush to get railcars here in the early days
of a previous order, had railcars delivered that could not be used, claimed
they were here, parked them on some train track somewhere, and subsequently had
them fitted out.
Mr
M. McGowan : You're making it up as you go along!
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : I am not making it up at all.
Mr
M. McGowan : You couldn't keep the trains running last week, and now
you're making things up!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
What am I making up—the youth unemployment rate? What am I making up—the
elephant from the Perth Zoo?
Mr M. McGowan :
Well, you look like it!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you to order for the
third time today.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Leader of the Opposition, that is right. I do have a challenge around the
waistline, member for Rockingham! I do not think that is hidden from anybody.
But I am working on it with my morning attendance at boxing at Bill's
gym in Northbridge, and perhaps the member for Rockingham and I could meet
there one morning —
Point of Order
Mr A.P. O'GORMAN :
Mr Speaker —
Mr M.P. Whitely : I'm
enjoying it!
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Member for
Kimberley, I am going to instruct you to be more careful in the words you
choose to use in this place. I think you had a point of order, member for
Joondalup.
Mr
A.P. O'GORMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I clearly asked the question
in three parts. The first part was: are we going to be five cars short when
they are delivered? The minister has not addressed that, and he is
deteriorating into clown activities rather than answering a very serious
question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : Let me explain it again. Last year, this government committed
$164 million to procure trains. Those trains will arrive —
Mr
A.P. O'Gorman : Will you be five short when they are all delivered?
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : I will be very clear on this, member for Joondalup, because
the member needs to understand it, so I will explain it slowly. Those trains
were ordered in 2011. The lead time is approximately two years. When we ordered
those trains, we were told by the opposition that they should have been here
last year or the year before. If they should have been here last year or the
year before, members opposite should have ordered them when they were in
government. Those trains will arrive here on the shortest possible lead time.
I will just close with this and get
back to the Leader of the Opposition's reflection on my portly
challenge. If we do meet in the ring, Leader of the Opposition, I am concerned
that if your feet keep growing at the rate that Alston has them growing, you
will not fit in the ring with me!
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