❓ Question addresses the Reid Highway widening project, its job creation, and the government's investment strategy. The Minister's answer highlights job creation, local employment, and funding reallocation from the cancelled Roe 8 and 9 projects to other infrastructure projects.
AnsweredQoN 473Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REID HIGHWAY
473. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment in job-creating, congestion-busting road
infrastructure, including the widening of Reid Highway. Can the minister update
the house on this project, including how it is creating local jobs and supporting
local businesses, and can the minister outline to the house how this government
has been able to invest in so many job-creating projects such as Reid Highway?
473. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment in job-creating, congestion-busting road
infrastructure, including the widening of Reid Highway. Can the minister update
the house on this project, including how it is creating local jobs and supporting
local businesses, and can the minister outline to the house how this government
has been able to invest in so many job-creating projects such as Reid Highway?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Swan Hills
for that question and, of course, for her commitment to reducing congestion and
improving safety throughout that north-east corridor. As a result of the
redirection of the Roe 8 and 9 money, we are able to go out and deliver so many
road projects across the metropolitan region.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman!
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : Reid Highway is,
yes, a major congestion point. It is one that we are addressing. Four hundred
jobs have been created, member for Swan Hills. A lot of local people
were employed, too—I met people from Ellenbrook and Lockridge on site,
members for Swan Hills and Bassendean. Jobs are being created through a pipeline
of work. These are projects that people have been calling for. Of course, this
work would not be underway if the opposition had its way. The Leader of the
Opposition, together with Christy Cain, supported Roe 8 and 9 and rejected the
Westport Taskforce and the new port. Our projects are delivering a pipeline of
certainty and a pipeline of work, wherever we go. The widening of, and
improvements to, Mitchell Freeway are underway because we diverted the money
from Roe 8 and 9 to those projects. The freeway south widening is one of the
member for Baldivis's favourite bits of infrastructure that is being
delivered across the state. That is happening —
Mr D.C. Nalder : That is not
true; freeway south.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Freeway
south.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The widening
of Kwinana Freeway is happening only because we diverted funds from Roe 8 and
9. We will keep telling that story to everyone. What about Karel Avenue, member
for Jandakot? There is the Armadale Road–North Lake Road bridge project
and the Wanneroo Road overpasses. Projects are happening all around the state
because we diverted the funding from Roe 8 and 9. I had another great meeting
with another federal minister today, Mr Alan Tudge. It was a great meeting, in
which we looked at all the progress we have made and all the progress we will
make into the future. Do members know what he did not raise with me? He did not
raise Roe 8 and 9. He was so excited about all the work that is underway and
that we can do together, because even he knows Roe 8 and 9 are not a priority
for the state. I know the Leader of the Opposition is wedded to it. Maybe it is
another captain's call, like her deputy and like her position on retail
trading hours, which was obviously a captain's pick that no-one was
involved in. There was her captain's call on Western Power and on
putting a wrecking ball through the finances of the state. I say to the members
for Churchlands and Bateman that we all knew it would unravel eventually, but
no-one could have expected it to happen so quickly!
for that question and, of course, for her commitment to reducing congestion and
improving safety throughout that north-east corridor. As a result of the
redirection of the Roe 8 and 9 money, we are able to go out and deliver so many
road projects across the metropolitan region.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman!
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : Reid Highway is,
yes, a major congestion point. It is one that we are addressing. Four hundred
jobs have been created, member for Swan Hills. A lot of local people
were employed, too—I met people from Ellenbrook and Lockridge on site,
members for Swan Hills and Bassendean. Jobs are being created through a pipeline
of work. These are projects that people have been calling for. Of course, this
work would not be underway if the opposition had its way. The Leader of the
Opposition, together with Christy Cain, supported Roe 8 and 9 and rejected the
Westport Taskforce and the new port. Our projects are delivering a pipeline of
certainty and a pipeline of work, wherever we go. The widening of, and
improvements to, Mitchell Freeway are underway because we diverted the money
from Roe 8 and 9 to those projects. The freeway south widening is one of the
member for Baldivis's favourite bits of infrastructure that is being
delivered across the state. That is happening —
Mr D.C. Nalder : That is not
true; freeway south.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Freeway
south.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The widening
of Kwinana Freeway is happening only because we diverted funds from Roe 8 and
9. We will keep telling that story to everyone. What about Karel Avenue, member
for Jandakot? There is the Armadale Road–North Lake Road bridge project
and the Wanneroo Road overpasses. Projects are happening all around the state
because we diverted the funding from Roe 8 and 9. I had another great meeting
with another federal minister today, Mr Alan Tudge. It was a great meeting, in
which we looked at all the progress we have made and all the progress we will
make into the future. Do members know what he did not raise with me? He did not
raise Roe 8 and 9. He was so excited about all the work that is underway and
that we can do together, because even he knows Roe 8 and 9 are not a priority
for the state. I know the Leader of the Opposition is wedded to it. Maybe it is
another captain's call, like her deputy and like her position on retail
trading hours, which was obviously a captain's pick that no-one was
involved in. There was her captain's call on Western Power and on
putting a wrecking ball through the finances of the state. I say to the members
for Churchlands and Bateman that we all knew it would unravel eventually, but
no-one could have expected it to happen so quickly!
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