KALGOORLIE CONSOLIDATED
GOLD MINES — MT PERCY — RAIL REALIGNMENT
205. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the Minister for Regional
Development:
I
refer the minister to my question without notice 80—C085—asked
on 18 February 2020 regarding the realignment of the rail line near the
Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Mt Percy open pits. The minister in her
answer said that planning work by her department had not identified specific
overall transport benefits. Earlier this week, I read reports that the government
is now paying for two studies designed to pave the way for this development.
(1) Was it my
excellent question on 18 February 2020 that inspired the government to pay for
studies into this project?
(2) If not, why
did the minister not notify the chamber of these studies when asked about the
issue on 18 February 2020?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
(1)–(2) That
is a pretty amazing question, I have to say. It shows some of the narcissism of
Mr Trump. I just think it is important to understand that the previous question
was not answered by me. I know that the way in which member has written his
question does imply that it has been. These issues have been on the agenda for
many, many years. They are frequently raised. I can remember work being done on
these issues when I was minister for transport many years ago. The Goldfields–Esperance
Development Commission has been working with the City of Kalgoorlie–Boulder
for some time, and we have managed to find some resources to update the studies
that have been done in the past. As the Minister for Transport said in her
answer, further work was required to understand the economic benefit and
regional development impacts. Well, this is the further work that is required.
So it is entirely consistent with the answer given by the other minister.