❓ Mr. Michel asks about the Karratha-Tom Price road construction and Aboriginal employment. Minister Saffioti responds, highlighting project progress, Aboriginal employment initiatives on other road projects, and future opportunities.
AnsweredQoN 686Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TRANSPORT —
KARRATHA–TOM PRICE ROAD — ABORIGINAL EMPLOYMENT
686. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment in job-creating road projects across
regional Western Australia, including the Karratha–Tom Price road.
(1) Can the minister update the
house on the construction of this important piece of road infrastructure?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this and other regional road projects are
supporting Aboriginal employment in the Pilbara and throughout the state?
KARRATHA–TOM PRICE ROAD — ABORIGINAL EMPLOYMENT
686. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment in job-creating road projects across
regional Western Australia, including the Karratha–Tom Price road.
(1) Can the minister update the
house on the construction of this important piece of road infrastructure?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this and other regional road projects are
supporting Aboriginal employment in the Pilbara and throughout the state?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Pilbara for the question and his strong support for road
infrastructure in the Pilbara, in particular for advocating that the $1.2 billion
the commonwealth set aside for a project that we are not going to build be
spent on regional roads in Western Australia. Good work, member for Pilbara.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I call
the members for North West Central and Swan Hills to order for the first time.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : The member for
Pilbara's strong advocacy is because he understands the importance of
regional road spending. Of course, no work had been undertaken on the
Karratha–Tom Price road since we were last in government. The last work undertaken on this project was by a previous
Labor government. Under eight and a half years —
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
The SPEAKER : I call the
member for North West Central to order for the second time.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : The last time there
was expenditure on this road was under the previous Labor government. This is a big project. I am pleased to advise
that MACA Civil has been awarded the contract for the Karratha–Tom
Price road stage 3. It is the delivery of a key election commitment for
the people of the Pilbara.
I
also want to outline that this project, like many in the Kimberley and Pilbara,
will target significant local Aboriginal employment in those projects.
Last week, I visited the Cape Leveque Road, where we have obtained 64 per cent Aboriginal employment on that project. We went
along to the Maggie's Jump Up project on Great Northern Highway , where, again, there is over 30 per cent
Aboriginal employment. Importantly, we are working with the Wyndham Work Camp to get inmates trained on the job to create really positive futures for
those people involved. Something I want to
see more of is young Aboriginal people of the Pilbara and Kimberley given real
on-the-ground training in building and maintaining roads. Of course, for
the Kimberley maintenance contract, we have changed the nature to make sure
that we have more direct management and a higher rate of Aboriginal employment.
Working with the Minister for Corrective Services, we will continue to see how
we can explore those opportunities and give them to those who do not have the
opportunity to get out there and get real jobs, and create jobs and futures for
their families.
I thank the member for Pilbara for
his strong work. I think we will be doing some more work on this project very
soon. I want to share the concern that the member for Pilbara raised about the
fire at Tom Price Primary School. I think the whole community should get behind
the school to support the work that is happening there.
thank the member for Pilbara for the question and his strong support for road
infrastructure in the Pilbara, in particular for advocating that the $1.2 billion
the commonwealth set aside for a project that we are not going to build be
spent on regional roads in Western Australia. Good work, member for Pilbara.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I call
the members for North West Central and Swan Hills to order for the first time.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : The member for
Pilbara's strong advocacy is because he understands the importance of
regional road spending. Of course, no work had been undertaken on the
Karratha–Tom Price road since we were last in government. The last work undertaken on this project was by a previous
Labor government. Under eight and a half years —
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
The SPEAKER : I call the
member for North West Central to order for the second time.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : The last time there
was expenditure on this road was under the previous Labor government. This is a big project. I am pleased to advise
that MACA Civil has been awarded the contract for the Karratha–Tom
Price road stage 3. It is the delivery of a key election commitment for
the people of the Pilbara.
I
also want to outline that this project, like many in the Kimberley and Pilbara,
will target significant local Aboriginal employment in those projects.
Last week, I visited the Cape Leveque Road, where we have obtained 64 per cent Aboriginal employment on that project. We went
along to the Maggie's Jump Up project on Great Northern Highway , where, again, there is over 30 per cent
Aboriginal employment. Importantly, we are working with the Wyndham Work Camp to get inmates trained on the job to create really positive futures for
those people involved. Something I want to
see more of is young Aboriginal people of the Pilbara and Kimberley given real
on-the-ground training in building and maintaining roads. Of course, for
the Kimberley maintenance contract, we have changed the nature to make sure
that we have more direct management and a higher rate of Aboriginal employment.
Working with the Minister for Corrective Services, we will continue to see how
we can explore those opportunities and give them to those who do not have the
opportunity to get out there and get real jobs, and create jobs and futures for
their families.
I thank the member for Pilbara for
his strong work. I think we will be doing some more work on this project very
soon. I want to share the concern that the member for Pilbara raised about the
fire at Tom Price Primary School. I think the whole community should get behind
the school to support the work that is happening there.
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