❓ Mr. Price questions the Minister for Transport on the progress of the Bellevue railcar manufacturing facility and its impact on local jobs and apprenticeships. The Minister responds by highlighting the project's progress and contrasting it with the opposition's past skepticism.
AnsweredQoN 115Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
JOBS — RAILCAR
MANUFACTURING
115. MR S.J. PRICE to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to creating new local jobs through its decision
to bring railcar manufacturing back to WA.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
construction of the new railcar manufacturing facility at Bellevue?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this will not only support local workers, but
also provide more opportunities for WA apprentices and trainees?
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time.
MANUFACTURING
115. MR S.J. PRICE to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to creating new local jobs through its decision
to bring railcar manufacturing back to WA.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
construction of the new railcar manufacturing facility at Bellevue?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this will not only support local workers, but
also provide more opportunities for WA apprentices and trainees?
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time.
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Forrestfield for that question. Members, railcar
manufacturing is back in WA. The Liberal Party said it could not be done.
Mr R.R. Whitby : They couldn't
do it. They wanted to go to India.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : We remember
the previous member for Morley's expeditions to India!
This government is doing something
that the opposition said could not be done—that is, bring back railcar
manufacturing to WA. Today, I was out in Bellevue with the member for Midland
and the Premier to turn the first sod, but the reality is that works are
underway on the new facility. This large $46 million facility measures 180 metres by 80 metres and it is now under
construction. That will be the new home for railcar manufacturing in WA.
A Western Australian company is building it. It will have the latest equipment
to facilitate what will be a very modern facility for railcar manufacturing. As
I said, it is a 180-metre-long building, with workshops, storage areas,
overhead cranes and, as part of stage 2, a high-voltage testing unit as well.
That is another part to this project. Of
course, we will have more news to come about a diesel maintenance facility. It
is all about making sure that we have railcar manufacturing, maintenance
jobs and an impact on the supply chain throughout WA. We will see 246 C-series
railcars and the new Australind railcars as well.
It just shows what we can
do when we have good policies, we get elected and we implement our policies. My
favourite quote from the opposition—one of many—is from
the member for Nedlands, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. I would also like
to congratulate the new Deputy Leader of the Nationals WA. I hope he models
himself on the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party. I think he will! The member
for Moore has already run out of the chamber. When he is under a bit of
pressure, he runs out.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
right!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The chamber
must note that the member for Moore and the member for North West Central —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, you
have got your own minister on her feet and you are interjecting. Show a bit of
class!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for North West Central and the member for Moore are outside doing paper
scissors rock to see who is deputy!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : In relation
to building railcars, the member for Nedlands was reported as saying —
''Obviously, we'd all
love that but whether you can actually deliver that is doubtful.''
That is the former Minister for
Transport's view on railcar manufacturing. Do the research, develop a policy,
get in government and deliver it. That is how it is done.
thank the member for Forrestfield for that question. Members, railcar
manufacturing is back in WA. The Liberal Party said it could not be done.
Mr R.R. Whitby : They couldn't
do it. They wanted to go to India.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : We remember
the previous member for Morley's expeditions to India!
This government is doing something
that the opposition said could not be done—that is, bring back railcar
manufacturing to WA. Today, I was out in Bellevue with the member for Midland
and the Premier to turn the first sod, but the reality is that works are
underway on the new facility. This large $46 million facility measures 180 metres by 80 metres and it is now under
construction. That will be the new home for railcar manufacturing in WA.
A Western Australian company is building it. It will have the latest equipment
to facilitate what will be a very modern facility for railcar manufacturing. As
I said, it is a 180-metre-long building, with workshops, storage areas,
overhead cranes and, as part of stage 2, a high-voltage testing unit as well.
That is another part to this project. Of
course, we will have more news to come about a diesel maintenance facility. It
is all about making sure that we have railcar manufacturing, maintenance
jobs and an impact on the supply chain throughout WA. We will see 246 C-series
railcars and the new Australind railcars as well.
It just shows what we can
do when we have good policies, we get elected and we implement our policies. My
favourite quote from the opposition—one of many—is from
the member for Nedlands, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. I would also like
to congratulate the new Deputy Leader of the Nationals WA. I hope he models
himself on the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party. I think he will! The member
for Moore has already run out of the chamber. When he is under a bit of
pressure, he runs out.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
right!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The chamber
must note that the member for Moore and the member for North West Central —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, you
have got your own minister on her feet and you are interjecting. Show a bit of
class!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for North West Central and the member for Moore are outside doing paper
scissors rock to see who is deputy!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : In relation
to building railcars, the member for Nedlands was reported as saying —
''Obviously, we'd all
love that but whether you can actually deliver that is doubtful.''
That is the former Minister for
Transport's view on railcar manufacturing. Do the research, develop a policy,
get in government and deliver it. That is how it is done.
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