❓ Question seeks information on the Cook Labor government's investment in public transport and its impact on outer Perth suburbs. The Minister's answer highlights achievements like the Midland station opening, affordable fares, local railcar manufacturing, and criticises the Liberal Party's opposition to Metronet.
AnsweredQoN 39Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Public transport—Investment39.Mr Steve Cataniato
the Minister for Transport:I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to deliver world-class public transport and this
Sunday's much-anticipated opening of the new Midland station. Can the minister
outline to the house how the government is investing in public transport and
achieving better outcomes for commuters in Perth's outer suburbs?
the Minister for Transport:I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to deliver world-class public transport and this
Sunday's much-anticipated opening of the new Midland station. Can the minister
outline to the house how the government is investing in public transport and
achieving better outcomes for commuters in Perth's outer suburbs?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 February 2026
Response time
0 days
Ms Rita Saffioti replied:As people in this
house know, we support public transport in this state. We support
accessibility, equity and opportunity. We have provided affordable fares for
those catching public transport with our one-zone fare cap. Why? It is because
it gives people opportunity. It gives kids the opportunity to attend TAFEs and
universities and get jobs, and that is why we are so committed to it. Of
course, this weekend, we will officially open the Midland train station. This
project has been talked about for a long time. I remember when the former member
for Darling Range was a member in the other place and claimed credit for this
station. Some members might know who I am referring to. This project has been
talked about and now it has been delivered. It includes a 24/7 pedestrian
overpass, new public spaces, a 12-stand bus interchange and a multistorey car
park, and it is part of the renewal of Midland. It is about facilitating new
places for people to work and live. It is part of our Metronet vision. It is a
vision that, as I said, is all about equity, access and opportunity. It is
making sure people can have access to services no matter where they live around
the state. As I said, this is part of our vision for the suburbs of Perth. Of
course, we also have local railcar manufacturing in Bellevue; we have brought back
railcar manufacturing to that area after it was ripped away by the Liberal
Party at the time.Members may have
picked this up, but the theme this week for question time is: What does the Liberal
Party stand for? Again, we see the Liberal Party opposing Metronet every day in
this chamber—opposing new rail lines, saying that Ellenbrook should
never have been delivered, opposing the Yanchep rail extension, opposing rail
lines everywhere we have built them. Of course, the Leader of the Opposition
talked about budgets and said that we are obsessed with Metronet, that we
should stop building Metronet and that Metronet should not be a priority. So,again, it was a surprise when he visited one of our
Metronet stations with the federal member for Canning andsaid, "Wow, just
chatting to some of the locals who reckon this Lakelands train station is
great!"The Liberal Party
has said on record that we should not be delivering train lines to the outer
suburbs. That is what the shadow Treasurer believes. We should not be
delivering train lines and new train stations to the outer suburbs. Then when the
Leader of the Opposition is out with his mate, the federal member for Canning, he
says, "Wow, this new train station is really cool! People seem to really
like it!" I am so proud of what we have delivered. I know who has opposed
it every day of the week in this Parliament and who tried to campaign against
it at three successive elections. On Sunday, we opened the Midland train
station. We are going to have a community day. We are going to celebrate
equity, accessibility and affordability in the suburbs.
Public transport—Investment
house know, we support public transport in this state. We support
accessibility, equity and opportunity. We have provided affordable fares for
those catching public transport with our one-zone fare cap. Why? It is because
it gives people opportunity. It gives kids the opportunity to attend TAFEs and
universities and get jobs, and that is why we are so committed to it. Of
course, this weekend, we will officially open the Midland train station. This
project has been talked about for a long time. I remember when the former member
for Darling Range was a member in the other place and claimed credit for this
station. Some members might know who I am referring to. This project has been
talked about and now it has been delivered. It includes a 24/7 pedestrian
overpass, new public spaces, a 12-stand bus interchange and a multistorey car
park, and it is part of the renewal of Midland. It is about facilitating new
places for people to work and live. It is part of our Metronet vision. It is a
vision that, as I said, is all about equity, access and opportunity. It is
making sure people can have access to services no matter where they live around
the state. As I said, this is part of our vision for the suburbs of Perth. Of
course, we also have local railcar manufacturing in Bellevue; we have brought back
railcar manufacturing to that area after it was ripped away by the Liberal
Party at the time.Members may have
picked this up, but the theme this week for question time is: What does the Liberal
Party stand for? Again, we see the Liberal Party opposing Metronet every day in
this chamber—opposing new rail lines, saying that Ellenbrook should
never have been delivered, opposing the Yanchep rail extension, opposing rail
lines everywhere we have built them. Of course, the Leader of the Opposition
talked about budgets and said that we are obsessed with Metronet, that we
should stop building Metronet and that Metronet should not be a priority. So,again, it was a surprise when he visited one of our
Metronet stations with the federal member for Canning andsaid, "Wow, just
chatting to some of the locals who reckon this Lakelands train station is
great!"The Liberal Party
has said on record that we should not be delivering train lines to the outer
suburbs. That is what the shadow Treasurer believes. We should not be
delivering train lines and new train stations to the outer suburbs. Then when the
Leader of the Opposition is out with his mate, the federal member for Canning, he
says, "Wow, this new train station is really cool! People seem to really
like it!" I am so proud of what we have delivered. I know who has opposed
it every day of the week in this Parliament and who tried to campaign against
it at three successive elections. On Sunday, we opened the Midland train
station. We are going to have a community day. We are going to celebrate
equity, accessibility and affordability in the suburbs.
Public transport—Investment
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