❓ The WA government expresses disappointment with federal infrastructure funding cuts, particularly affecting the Pinjarra heavy haulage deviation and other resource-related projects, but commits to state-funded delivery to support jobs and communities.
AnsweredQoN 883Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING
883. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Transport:
I, too, would like to acknowledge
the students of Carcoola Primary School in the public gallery. Hi, kids.
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
strong record of sustainable infrastructure delivery.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the Cook government's response to the
federal government's infrastructure pipeline review?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this government will continue to support jobs and
advocate for investment in Western Australia?
883. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Transport:
I, too, would like to acknowledge
the students of Carcoola Primary School in the public gallery. Hi, kids.
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
strong record of sustainable infrastructure delivery.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the Cook government's response to the
federal government's infrastructure pipeline review?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this government will continue to support jobs and
advocate for investment in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Murray–Wellington
for, in particular, her strong advocacy for the people in her electorate,
especially over the Pinjarra heavy haulage deviation. The member has driven
that project from day one. She brought it to the attention of the then
opposition and we have been working together on navigating the best path to
deliver this project. Remember, we initially had stage 1, but we knew that
there were too many issues in delivering stage 1 so we jointly funded stage 2
to make it a bigger project that would deliver for the area. We are committed
to the projects that we have taken to elections and that we have stood and
committed to local communities that we would deliver, none of which are better illustrated than the Pinjarra heavy haulage
deviation. That is why we are deeply disappointed with the cuts in
funding to these projects by the federal government. Of the five projects that
have been mentioned, three are more
significant—we will continue to support all five—and require
the majority of the funding . The Pinjarra heavy haulage deviation is
included among those. Under the leadership of the Premier, we will deliver that
project as a state-funded project.
Mr R.S. Love : Why does
federal Labor believe that those projects lack merit?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Go and ask
them!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the
House and Leader of the Opposition! Leader of the Opposition, you did not ask
this question. The minister is responding to the member for Murray–Wellington
and informing the house. I ask you to stop interjecting. Likewise, I ask the
Leader of the House and the Minister for Fisheries to stop interjecting.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : We support
the project 100 per cent.
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The state
Labor government will step in and make sure that project is delivered. We will continue to do the planning that is underway and
undertake the significant Aboriginal heritage and environmental approvals in that area. The two other major projects are the upgrades to Marble
Bar Road to support a major resources project and a project in Yilgarn—Moorine
Rock—to support the Covalent Lithium mine. We thought we had created what we thought was a very good
partnership between the federal government, the state government and the
resources companies to jointly share the delivery of those projects. Both of
those projects are necessary for major resources projects. One is under
contract already and the other is near to becoming under contract. I have spoken to both companies today. We remain
committed to delivering those projects to create local jobs and support
the local communities, and that is what we are doing. We will continue to
support the two other projects with minor planning money as well as some local
roads through the freight network, primarily across the great southern. We are
deeply disappointed, but WA Labor will not let the communities down. We will
continue to support those projects. We back every project across our
infrastructure program and we will continue to deliver, because that is what we have committed to do. We will continue the
strong infrastructure pipeline that will reduce congestion and support
freight connectivity and better access to Aboriginal communities. Many of our
regional projects help support access to
Aboriginal communities. We will also reduce road safety issues. We are
absolutely 100 per cent committed. This is not what we wanted, but WA
Labor will get on with it and deliver these projects and support economic
development in this state.
for, in particular, her strong advocacy for the people in her electorate,
especially over the Pinjarra heavy haulage deviation. The member has driven
that project from day one. She brought it to the attention of the then
opposition and we have been working together on navigating the best path to
deliver this project. Remember, we initially had stage 1, but we knew that
there were too many issues in delivering stage 1 so we jointly funded stage 2
to make it a bigger project that would deliver for the area. We are committed
to the projects that we have taken to elections and that we have stood and
committed to local communities that we would deliver, none of which are better illustrated than the Pinjarra heavy haulage
deviation. That is why we are deeply disappointed with the cuts in
funding to these projects by the federal government. Of the five projects that
have been mentioned, three are more
significant—we will continue to support all five—and require
the majority of the funding . The Pinjarra heavy haulage deviation is
included among those. Under the leadership of the Premier, we will deliver that
project as a state-funded project.
Mr R.S. Love : Why does
federal Labor believe that those projects lack merit?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Go and ask
them!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the
House and Leader of the Opposition! Leader of the Opposition, you did not ask
this question. The minister is responding to the member for Murray–Wellington
and informing the house. I ask you to stop interjecting. Likewise, I ask the
Leader of the House and the Minister for Fisheries to stop interjecting.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : We support
the project 100 per cent.
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The state
Labor government will step in and make sure that project is delivered. We will continue to do the planning that is underway and
undertake the significant Aboriginal heritage and environmental approvals in that area. The two other major projects are the upgrades to Marble
Bar Road to support a major resources project and a project in Yilgarn—Moorine
Rock—to support the Covalent Lithium mine. We thought we had created what we thought was a very good
partnership between the federal government, the state government and the
resources companies to jointly share the delivery of those projects. Both of
those projects are necessary for major resources projects. One is under
contract already and the other is near to becoming under contract. I have spoken to both companies today. We remain
committed to delivering those projects to create local jobs and support
the local communities, and that is what we are doing. We will continue to
support the two other projects with minor planning money as well as some local
roads through the freight network, primarily across the great southern. We are
deeply disappointed, but WA Labor will not let the communities down. We will
continue to support those projects. We back every project across our
infrastructure program and we will continue to deliver, because that is what we have committed to do. We will continue the
strong infrastructure pipeline that will reduce congestion and support
freight connectivity and better access to Aboriginal communities. Many of our
regional projects help support access to
Aboriginal communities. We will also reduce road safety issues. We are
absolutely 100 per cent committed. This is not what we wanted, but WA
Labor will get on with it and deliver these projects and support economic
development in this state.
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