❓ Ms. Hamilton asks about the government's plans to make public transport more affordable. The Minister responds by outlining initiatives like Metronet, fare capping, and railcar manufacturing, while also attacking the opposition's stance on these projects.
AnsweredQoN 548Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC TRANSPORT — FARES
548. Ms E.L. HAMILTON to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to making public transport more affordable for Western
Australians. Can the minister outline to the house how this government is using
its strong responsible financial management
to bring down the cost of fares and make public transport more accessible for
more Western Australians?
548. Ms E.L. HAMILTON to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to making public transport more affordable for Western
Australians. Can the minister outline to the house how this government is using
its strong responsible financial management
to bring down the cost of fares and make public transport more accessible for
more Western Australians?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for Joondalup for that question. As members in this place
know, there are a number of initiatives that we are rolling out to make
public transport more accessible and also more affordable. On accessibility, we
are rolling out Metronet all around the suburbs. There are new initiatives
funded in this budget, including the new Greenwood multistorey car park, and,
of course, the new operations control centre, which is part of our technology
rollout to make sure that we can have technology that allows more trains to
operate more often. We are also funding the level crossing removals through
Victoria Park and Cannington. We are building the next generation of railcars right here in WA. Remember, this was a policy that
was opposed by the Liberal–National opposition. We are bringing railcar manufacturing back to WA. The then Leader of the Opposition said, ''We
do not support propping up industries from a bygone era.'' That was the
claim by the then Leader of the Opposition. As I said, new technology across
our rail networks will eventually see the ability to run trains every two
minutes across our network, which makes accessibility absolutely incredible for
everyone across that network.
Of course, the new initiative that
was announced as part of the election campaign and funded in this state budget is the capping of public transport fares across
the suburbs. The maximum anyone will pay to travel across the suburbs will be a two-zone fare. This will see thousands of dollars of savings for
people across the outer suburbs. Someone living in Dawesville, for example,
will be potentially saving over $3 000 a year under these initiatives.
Dr D.J. Honey : Yes, who's
paying for it?
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : It is the member for
Cottesloe! This is the Liberal–National party that has opposed every
Metronet project we have put forward.
It has opposed every Metronet project. It has bumper stickers attacking all the
Metronet projects. Then it comes in
and says, ''We're not opposed to Metronet in here.''
Every day of the week, it has opposed Metronet, and we have seen the
member for Cottesloe go out there and give mistruths about what is happening
with Metronet. The latest is about how many inches of rail line we have
delivered. We know that the Liberal Party review
noted the laziness of the Liberal Party in policy development. This is a demonstration.
Not only did members of the Liberal Party not open the budget papers,
but they did not even look at the front page, which has the new kilometres of
rail that we have laid for Metronet.
A government member: We even gave
you a picture!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : We even gave
you a picture, member for Cottesloe, and you still cannot get it right!
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : What is that,
member? The member for Vasse, one of the key policy coordinators for the 2021
election campaign—remember, she was standing there next to the former
member for Dawesville, right there, side by side—one of the key
architects of the worst election loss in living memory across the world, and
she is sitting there talking about the
Ellenbrook rail line. The audacity! The laziness! Again, that was demonstrated
today. Members opposite ask a question and then they go on their phones.
When there is a matter of public interest, they launch an MPI and then they
disappear out of the chamber. They are so lazy that they do not even have the
attention span to listen to an answer provided to a question that they have
asked!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister, I do
not think that I require the point of order. Can I ask you to draw your answer
to a close and keep to the point. I am quite happy for the minister to conclude
her answer.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Thank you.
Mr D.A. Templeman : She hasn't
landed him yet! She has him on the line; she has to land him now!
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
House, can I rely on you to set a better example? Thank you.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : That is a mistake,
Madam Speaker, if you are relying on him to set a better example!
We are investing a record amount in
public transport infrastructure. We are rolling out the new two-zone fare cap,
and the Golden SmartRider competition will be run through the month of October
to reward those people who are using public transport and to encourage more
people to use public transport. This is a transformation of our public
transport network that the Labor Party is proud to be delivering.
thank the member for Joondalup for that question. As members in this place
know, there are a number of initiatives that we are rolling out to make
public transport more accessible and also more affordable. On accessibility, we
are rolling out Metronet all around the suburbs. There are new initiatives
funded in this budget, including the new Greenwood multistorey car park, and,
of course, the new operations control centre, which is part of our technology
rollout to make sure that we can have technology that allows more trains to
operate more often. We are also funding the level crossing removals through
Victoria Park and Cannington. We are building the next generation of railcars right here in WA. Remember, this was a policy that
was opposed by the Liberal–National opposition. We are bringing railcar manufacturing back to WA. The then Leader of the Opposition said, ''We
do not support propping up industries from a bygone era.'' That was the
claim by the then Leader of the Opposition. As I said, new technology across
our rail networks will eventually see the ability to run trains every two
minutes across our network, which makes accessibility absolutely incredible for
everyone across that network.
Of course, the new initiative that
was announced as part of the election campaign and funded in this state budget is the capping of public transport fares across
the suburbs. The maximum anyone will pay to travel across the suburbs will be a two-zone fare. This will see thousands of dollars of savings for
people across the outer suburbs. Someone living in Dawesville, for example,
will be potentially saving over $3 000 a year under these initiatives.
Dr D.J. Honey : Yes, who's
paying for it?
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : It is the member for
Cottesloe! This is the Liberal–National party that has opposed every
Metronet project we have put forward.
It has opposed every Metronet project. It has bumper stickers attacking all the
Metronet projects. Then it comes in
and says, ''We're not opposed to Metronet in here.''
Every day of the week, it has opposed Metronet, and we have seen the
member for Cottesloe go out there and give mistruths about what is happening
with Metronet. The latest is about how many inches of rail line we have
delivered. We know that the Liberal Party review
noted the laziness of the Liberal Party in policy development. This is a demonstration.
Not only did members of the Liberal Party not open the budget papers,
but they did not even look at the front page, which has the new kilometres of
rail that we have laid for Metronet.
A government member: We even gave
you a picture!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : We even gave
you a picture, member for Cottesloe, and you still cannot get it right!
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : What is that,
member? The member for Vasse, one of the key policy coordinators for the 2021
election campaign—remember, she was standing there next to the former
member for Dawesville, right there, side by side—one of the key
architects of the worst election loss in living memory across the world, and
she is sitting there talking about the
Ellenbrook rail line. The audacity! The laziness! Again, that was demonstrated
today. Members opposite ask a question and then they go on their phones.
When there is a matter of public interest, they launch an MPI and then they
disappear out of the chamber. They are so lazy that they do not even have the
attention span to listen to an answer provided to a question that they have
asked!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister, I do
not think that I require the point of order. Can I ask you to draw your answer
to a close and keep to the point. I am quite happy for the minister to conclude
her answer.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Thank you.
Mr D.A. Templeman : She hasn't
landed him yet! She has him on the line; she has to land him now!
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
House, can I rely on you to set a better example? Thank you.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : That is a mistake,
Madam Speaker, if you are relying on him to set a better example!
We are investing a record amount in
public transport infrastructure. We are rolling out the new two-zone fare cap,
and the Golden SmartRider competition will be run through the month of October
to reward those people who are using public transport and to encourage more
people to use public transport. This is a transformation of our public
transport network that the Labor Party is proud to be delivering.
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