SOUTH COAST HIGHWAY —
UPGRADE
890. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to supporting local jobs and local businesses
through its record investment in regional roads.
(1) Can the minister update the
house on the work underway on upgrading South Coast Highway?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how this and other transport projects across
regional WA are helping to support the state's economic recovery from
the COVID-19 pandemic?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI
replied:
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. Of course, Mr
Speaker, I joined your good self in Albany this morning to turn the sod on
stage 3 of our $30 million upgrade to South Coast Highway. At the last
election, we committed $30 million to upgrade South Coast Highway. The works
that we are commencing now include widening and reconstruction works, and the
construction of two new passing lanes between Bluff Creek and Kojaneerup West
Roads. These projects will commence today and will finish in May next year.
Mr F.M. Logan: Well done,
minister!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: Thank you! I am
glad someone is giving me credit for this.
Mr P.C. Tinley: You deserve
it!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: Thank you.
Stage
1, the Mead Road section, has been completed. That includes widening the
pavement from seven to 11 metres. Stage 2, the Kalgan section, has also
been completed. Western Australian company Ertech Pty Ltd was announced as the
successful contractor for stage 3. As I said, the works commenced today and
will be finished in May 2021. This road
services a lot of the tourism community, and of course the farming community.
It is really servicing freight movements,
and also tourism and caravanners and tourists all up. It is an essential
upgrade. Of course, other major projects are happening in Albany. Works
are progressing on the Albany ring-road. That project will basically create
over 1 000 jobs, together with all the other jobs in the community.
Unlike the National Party, we have
always supported spending on roads, members. We did not think it was not a priority
to spend on roads. That is why we have incredible expenditure across the state.
Whether it is in Geraldton, on Brand Highway or Indian Ocean Drive, or through
the Kimberley and the Pilbara, there are works absolutely everywhere.
This is a government committed to
regional road safety and spending on roads. We do not need bumper stickers to
tell us how to prioritise our expenditure. Spending in regional WA is in our
DNA.
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: It is in our
DNA. We do not need bumper stickers to remind us.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Members, I want
to hear this. This is good news.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI: We do not need
bumper stickers to remind us that we have to spend money in regional WA. That
is what we do in regional road spending. I do not know why National Party members
take issue with us. I do not know why they take issue with the Labor Party. I do
not know why they take issue with me or the Premier in this place. The National Party's problem is not
on this side of the chamber. The problem is the person who normally sits
behind the Leader of the National Party, the
member for North West Central, Vince Catania, who is creating division
in the National Party and intimidating and bullying members of the National
Party. The question is, Leader of the National Party —
Point of Order
Mr D.T.
REDMAN: Mr Speaker, I think the minister is bringing someone's
name into disrepute.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Minister, just
get back on track, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: Sure. The
question for the National Party is: is he worth it? As has been demonstrated,
that member is creating division and intimidating and bullying members. On this
side of the house, we are concentrating on delivering —
Point of Order
Mr R.S.
LOVE: Mr Speaker, I refer to your ruling a moment ago to the
minister to get back to the topic. She has strayed back onto discussing a member
of the National Party again, contrary to your order.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: The minister
will get back to the topic.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: On this side,
we are focusing on delivering in regional WA key infrastructure, key roads and
road safety improvements.