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.