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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 405 asked in the Legislative Council on 12 May 2020 by Hon Robin Scott

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

MEEKATHARRA–WILUNA ROAD — SEALING

405. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the minister representing the Minister for Transport:

The PRESIDENT: Hon Robin Scott, I noted earlier that Hon Colin Tincknell, as your party leader, had asked two questions and I had assumed, as per the arrangement that was in place with the party leaders, that he was asking that question on your behalf. That does not appear to be the case. I just remind leaders of the agreement that is in place. Perhaps it might help me in future—I know some leaders do this already—if leaders were to send me a message and let me know if they are asking questions on behalf of their other members or if their members are asking questions on their own behalf. It is a very complicated system. Because we are trying to deal with the COVID-19 issues and some members have elected to ask their own questions and are having to move to the podium, it is taking much longer. I note that the questions are becoming slightly longer as well. On this occasion, I will give you the call, Hon Robin Scott, but in future, if the leader of that party is not going to be asking a question on behalf of their member, they will get only one question. Understood? Thank you. I give the call to Hon Robin Scott.

Hon ROBIN SCOTT: The government's very own Hon Kyle McGinn stated to the Kalgoorlie Miner just over a week ago that the sealing of the Meekatharra–Wiluna road was, and I quote, ''a priority''.

(1) Given that it is almost a year since a pilot program was announced, does the government now concede that the project is only a low priority for it?

(2) Will the McGowan government commit to sealing the remaining 124 kilometres of road within the next term of government, if it wins another term?

Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister for Transport.

(1)–(2) Main Roads has been working closely with Hon Kyle McGinn, the Wiluna shire, the Wiluna TAFE, the Mid West Development Commission, contracting operators and local Indigenous groups to develop a pilot program that will enhance training and employment opportunities for the local community. Main Roads has identified $1 million to progress this training initiative, which involves upgrading and sealing a section of the road immediately west of the Wiluna town site. Subject to COVID-19 constraints and favourable weather conditions, Main Roads expects that the training program will commence by the end of June 2020 and be completed within approximately six weeks. Depending on the outcome of that pilot, further funding will be sought to progress the sealing program along the remaining unsealed sections of the Meekatharra–Wiluna road.