❓ Dr. Honey questions the Premier regarding underspending on capital works and committing to unrealistic infrastructure plans. The Premier attributes delays to a strong economy and the need to smooth projects.
AnsweredQoN 276Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CAPITAL WORKS
276. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I refer to the government's
persistent failure to deliver on its annual infrastructure plan even before the
COVID era, culminating in a $1.5 billion underspend in the financial period
2020–21.
(1) Since the
government has only ever been able to spend $5 billion in previous years on
capital projects, why did the Premier commit to an $8 billion plan for the
current financial year, an amount which the Premier must have known could not
be achieved?
(2) Why does the
government continue to commit to further capital projects that the Premier
knows cannot possibly be delivered in the promised time frame?
276. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I refer to the government's
persistent failure to deliver on its annual infrastructure plan even before the
COVID era, culminating in a $1.5 billion underspend in the financial period
2020–21.
(1) Since the
government has only ever been able to spend $5 billion in previous years on
capital projects, why did the Premier commit to an $8 billion plan for the
current financial year, an amount which the Premier must have known could not
be achieved?
(2) Why does the
government continue to commit to further capital projects that the Premier
knows cannot possibly be delivered in the promised time frame?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The
construction and building market in Western Australia is very heated. That is
the reality. That is because it is successful, so house building and
construction and the infrastructure build, both private and public, are very,
very strong. Obviously, it puts delays into the system for everyone. Whether
someone is building a house or a commercial venture, whatever it might be, it
takes time to build. That has been the experience now for many years. I think
it may have even been the case under the past government that the asset
investment program was not fully expended each year. That does not mean that we
do not invest in infrastructure, and we will continue to invest in
infrastructure. Setting the state up for the future and, in particular,
acquiring commonwealth money to assist us in doing that is an important part of
what we do, so we will continue to do it. I think we announced late last year
that we had to smooth some projects, which, basically, means extending them
over a longer time to take some pressure out of the construction market, but
that is just the natural reality of a very, very strong economy.
construction and building market in Western Australia is very heated. That is
the reality. That is because it is successful, so house building and
construction and the infrastructure build, both private and public, are very,
very strong. Obviously, it puts delays into the system for everyone. Whether
someone is building a house or a commercial venture, whatever it might be, it
takes time to build. That has been the experience now for many years. I think
it may have even been the case under the past government that the asset
investment program was not fully expended each year. That does not mean that we
do not invest in infrastructure, and we will continue to invest in
infrastructure. Setting the state up for the future and, in particular,
acquiring commonwealth money to assist us in doing that is an important part of
what we do, so we will continue to do it. I think we announced late last year
that we had to smooth some projects, which, basically, means extending them
over a longer time to take some pressure out of the construction market, but
that is just the natural reality of a very, very strong economy.
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