❓ Mr Michel questions the Minister for Transport on the McGowan government's commitment to regional road projects, specifically those not funded by the previous Liberal-National government, and seeks information on federal support for these projects. The Minister defends the government's record and criticises the previous government's inaction.
AnsweredQoN 122Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REGIONAL ROAD
INFRASTRUCTURE
122. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Transport:
Mr Speaker, I refer to the —
Mr M.P. Murray : They have
just been told about being asleep at the wheel!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr K.J.J. MICHEL : I refer to
the McGowan Labor government's record funding for job-creating road
projects in regional Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house this government's commitment to road
projects across Western Australia, including the Albany ring-road and the
Karratha–Tom Price road, that have never been funded by a state Liberal–National
government?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house whether she has received any support for these
projects from the federal Liberal–National government?
INFRASTRUCTURE
122. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Transport:
Mr Speaker, I refer to the —
Mr M.P. Murray : They have
just been told about being asleep at the wheel!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr K.J.J. MICHEL : I refer to
the McGowan Labor government's record funding for job-creating road
projects in regional Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house this government's commitment to road
projects across Western Australia, including the Albany ring-road and the
Karratha–Tom Price road, that have never been funded by a state Liberal–National
government?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house whether she has received any support for these
projects from the federal Liberal–National government?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for that question and his commitment to regional WA and, of
course, the Pilbara. The McGowan Labor government is spending record amounts on
road funding in regional WA. The approach by the former leader of the National
Party, Brendon Grylls, was, ''We haven't spent a lot of money on
roads''. Basically, he could spend it and no-one sees it, so the
National Party did not care.
�Other
comments have been flying around in recent weeks. The member for North West Central
said that the Karratha–Tom Price road would have been built using
royalties for regions funding if the Nationals were still in government! I am
not sure whether anyone can remember, but they were in government for how many
years?
Several members
interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI :
Eight and a half years.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Eight and a half
years, and they did not do anything on the Karratha–Tom Price road—absolutely
nothing. Since we have come to government, we have invested in and put money
aside for these very key projects. But, of course, we would like some federal
government support. One would think that the federal Liberal–National
government would be interested in regional road funding. One would think that
that would be a priority for it. What did we see last week when the Prime
Minister came over? We did not see one cent for the Albany ring-road despite
the local federal Liberal member talking about it and saying that we have not
done enough. We have done the business cases, we have put the money on the
table, and we want support from the federal Liberal–National government—and
the same for the Karratha–Tom Price Road. We will not stop; we will
keep fighting for regional road funding because it was neglected under the
previous government. All around the state, the focus on regional road funding
is very, very clear whether it is in Collie, the Pilbara, Kalgoorlie or Albany.
The spending is across the state and we will continue to improve road safety
and road conditions in regional WA. That is our priority.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, he is
eventually on his feet. We are going to hear his question.
thank the member for that question and his commitment to regional WA and, of
course, the Pilbara. The McGowan Labor government is spending record amounts on
road funding in regional WA. The approach by the former leader of the National
Party, Brendon Grylls, was, ''We haven't spent a lot of money on
roads''. Basically, he could spend it and no-one sees it, so the
National Party did not care.
�Other
comments have been flying around in recent weeks. The member for North West Central
said that the Karratha–Tom Price road would have been built using
royalties for regions funding if the Nationals were still in government! I am
not sure whether anyone can remember, but they were in government for how many
years?
Several members
interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI :
Eight and a half years.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Eight and a half
years, and they did not do anything on the Karratha–Tom Price road—absolutely
nothing. Since we have come to government, we have invested in and put money
aside for these very key projects. But, of course, we would like some federal
government support. One would think that the federal Liberal–National
government would be interested in regional road funding. One would think that
that would be a priority for it. What did we see last week when the Prime
Minister came over? We did not see one cent for the Albany ring-road despite
the local federal Liberal member talking about it and saying that we have not
done enough. We have done the business cases, we have put the money on the
table, and we want support from the federal Liberal–National government—and
the same for the Karratha–Tom Price Road. We will not stop; we will
keep fighting for regional road funding because it was neglected under the
previous government. All around the state, the focus on regional road funding
is very, very clear whether it is in Collie, the Pilbara, Kalgoorlie or Albany.
The spending is across the state and we will continue to improve road safety
and road conditions in regional WA. That is our priority.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, he is
eventually on his feet. We are going to hear his question.
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