❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the Transport Minister about the economic assessment of shifting grain freight from rail to road, focusing on safety externalities, accident costs, and consideration of relevant reports. The Minister's answers are brief and refer back to a previous question.
AnsweredQoN 1037Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
GRAIN FREIGHT NETWORK — FUNDING
I refer to the Minister for Transport’s answer to question without notice 945. (1) Can the minister confirm that the business case used a single value for all externalities that is based on the cost of crashes being assessed using a “human capital approach with an element of WTP grafted on”? (2) If no to (1), what basis was used to assess the cost of the crashes? (3) Will the minister table copies of the two documents he identified in his answer to question (1)(c); and, if not, why not? (4) Is the minister or his agency aware of the Austroads report, “Component Costs in Transport Projects to Ensure the Appropriate Valuing of Safety Effects”; and, if yes, were any of its recommendations considered in determining the externalities to be used in the business case? (5) Does the government accept that rail transport is safer than road transport by a factor of between six and nine times; and, if not, why not? (6) Did the government make any assessment of the number of additional accidents or fatalities that will occur as a result of the grain task being transferred from tier 3 lines to road transport; and, if yes, what was it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
I refer to the Minister for Transport’s answer to question without notice 945. (1) Can the minister confirm that the business case used a single value for all externalities that is based on the cost of crashes being assessed using a “human capital approach with an element of WTP grafted on”? (2) If no to (1), what basis was used to assess the cost of the crashes? (3) Will the minister table copies of the two documents he identified in his answer to question (1)(c); and, if not, why not? (4) Is the minister or his agency aware of the Austroads report, “Component Costs in Transport Projects to Ensure the Appropriate Valuing of Safety Effects”; and, if yes, were any of its recommendations considered in determining the externalities to be used in the business case? (5) Does the government accept that rail transport is safer than road transport by a factor of between six and nine times; and, if not, why not? (6) Did the government make any assessment of the number of additional accidents or fatalities that will occur as a result of the grain task being transferred from tier 3 lines to road transport; and, if yes, what was it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(1) Can the minister confirm that the business case used a single value for all externalities that is based on the cost of crashes being assessed using a “human capital approach with an element of WTP grafted on”? (2) If no to (1), what basis was used to assess the cost of the crashes? (3) Will the minister table copies of the two documents he identified in his answer to question (1)(c); and, if not, why not? (4) Is the minister or his agency aware of the Austroads report, “Component Costs in Transport Projects to Ensure the Appropriate Valuing of Safety Effects”; and, if yes, were any of its recommendations considered in determining the externalities to be used in the business case? (5) Does the government accept that rail transport is safer than road transport by a factor of between six and nine times; and, if not, why not? (6) Did the government make any assessment of the number of additional accidents or fatalities that will occur as a result of the grain task being transferred from tier 3 lines to road transport; and, if yes, what was it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(2) If no to (1), what basis was used to assess the cost of the crashes? (3) Will the minister table copies of the two documents he identified in his answer to question (1)(c); and, if not, why not? (4) Is the minister or his agency aware of the Austroads report, “Component Costs in Transport Projects to Ensure the Appropriate Valuing of Safety Effects”; and, if yes, were any of its recommendations considered in determining the externalities to be used in the business case? (5) Does the government accept that rail transport is safer than road transport by a factor of between six and nine times; and, if not, why not? (6) Did the government make any assessment of the number of additional accidents or fatalities that will occur as a result of the grain task being transferred from tier 3 lines to road transport; and, if yes, what was it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(3) Will the minister table copies of the two documents he identified in his answer to question (1)(c); and, if not, why not? (4) Is the minister or his agency aware of the Austroads report, “Component Costs in Transport Projects to Ensure the Appropriate Valuing of Safety Effects”; and, if yes, were any of its recommendations considered in determining the externalities to be used in the business case? (5) Does the government accept that rail transport is safer than road transport by a factor of between six and nine times; and, if not, why not? (6) Did the government make any assessment of the number of additional accidents or fatalities that will occur as a result of the grain task being transferred from tier 3 lines to road transport; and, if yes, what was it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(4) Is the minister or his agency aware of the Austroads report, “Component Costs in Transport Projects to Ensure the Appropriate Valuing of Safety Effects”; and, if yes, were any of its recommendations considered in determining the externalities to be used in the business case? (5) Does the government accept that rail transport is safer than road transport by a factor of between six and nine times; and, if not, why not? (6) Did the government make any assessment of the number of additional accidents or fatalities that will occur as a result of the grain task being transferred from tier 3 lines to road transport; and, if yes, what was it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(5) Does the government accept that rail transport is safer than road transport by a factor of between six and nine times; and, if not, why not? (6) Did the government make any assessment of the number of additional accidents or fatalities that will occur as a result of the grain task being transferred from tier 3 lines to road transport; and, if yes, what was it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(6) Did the government make any assessment of the number of additional accidents or fatalities that will occur as a result of the grain task being transferred from tier 3 lines to road transport; and, if yes, what was it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(1) Can the minister confirm that the business case used a single value for all externalities that is based on the cost of crashes being assessed using a “human capital approach with an element of WTP grafted on”? (2) If no to (1), what basis was used to assess the cost of the crashes? (3) Will the minister table copies of the two documents he identified in his answer to question (1)(c); and, if not, why not? (4) Is the minister or his agency aware of the Austroads report, “Component Costs in Transport Projects to Ensure the Appropriate Valuing of Safety Effects”; and, if yes, were any of its recommendations considered in determining the externalities to be used in the business case? (5) Does the government accept that rail transport is safer than road transport by a factor of between six and nine times; and, if not, why not? (6) Did the government make any assessment of the number of additional accidents or fatalities that will occur as a result of the grain task being transferred from tier 3 lines to road transport; and, if yes, what was it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(2) If no to (1), what basis was used to assess the cost of the crashes? (3) Will the minister table copies of the two documents he identified in his answer to question (1)(c); and, if not, why not? (4) Is the minister or his agency aware of the Austroads report, “Component Costs in Transport Projects to Ensure the Appropriate Valuing of Safety Effects”; and, if yes, were any of its recommendations considered in determining the externalities to be used in the business case? (5) Does the government accept that rail transport is safer than road transport by a factor of between six and nine times; and, if not, why not? (6) Did the government make any assessment of the number of additional accidents or fatalities that will occur as a result of the grain task being transferred from tier 3 lines to road transport; and, if yes, what was it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(3) Will the minister table copies of the two documents he identified in his answer to question (1)(c); and, if not, why not? (4) Is the minister or his agency aware of the Austroads report, “Component Costs in Transport Projects to Ensure the Appropriate Valuing of Safety Effects”; and, if yes, were any of its recommendations considered in determining the externalities to be used in the business case? (5) Does the government accept that rail transport is safer than road transport by a factor of between six and nine times; and, if not, why not? (6) Did the government make any assessment of the number of additional accidents or fatalities that will occur as a result of the grain task being transferred from tier 3 lines to road transport; and, if yes, what was it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(4) Is the minister or his agency aware of the Austroads report, “Component Costs in Transport Projects to Ensure the Appropriate Valuing of Safety Effects”; and, if yes, were any of its recommendations considered in determining the externalities to be used in the business case? (5) Does the government accept that rail transport is safer than road transport by a factor of between six and nine times; and, if not, why not? (6) Did the government make any assessment of the number of additional accidents or fatalities that will occur as a result of the grain task being transferred from tier 3 lines to road transport; and, if yes, what was it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(5) Does the government accept that rail transport is safer than road transport by a factor of between six and nine times; and, if not, why not? (6) Did the government make any assessment of the number of additional accidents or fatalities that will occur as a result of the grain task being transferred from tier 3 lines to road transport; and, if yes, what was it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(6) Did the government make any assessment of the number of additional accidents or fatalities that will occur as a result of the grain task being transferred from tier 3 lines to road transport; and, if yes, what was it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(1) Yes. Externalities were considered, as identified in question without notice 945. (2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(2) Not applicable. (3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(3) Although these reports are publicly available, I do not have immediate access to them for tabling. (4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(4) No. Refer to answer to question without notice 945. (5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(5) Rail is generally considered to be safer than road. Transport decisions by those undertaking a freight task will also be based on economics and pricing. (6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
(6) Safety was incorporated in the analysis of all externalities.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.