CORONAVIRUS —
TRANSPORT PROJECTS — ELLENBROOK LINE
459. Ms A. SANDERSON to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's efforts to support the Western Australian economy as it
recovers from the impacts of COVID-19 through its massive pipeline of
infrastructure projects—in particular, Metronet and the vitally
important Morley–Ellenbrook line.
Can the minister update the house on
the Morley–Ellenbrook rail line and the opportunities this important
Metronet project will provide local businesses, workers and the broader
economy? Furthermore, can the minister advise the house whether she is aware of
any threats to this government's efforts to deliver these projects and
support the WA economy?
Ms R.
SAFFIOTI replied:
I thank the member for Morley for
that question. On Sunday, the member for Morley was in Morley with me, the
Premier, the member for Swan Hills and Hon Mathias Cormann as we announced a number
of key features of the Morley–Ellenbrook line. We released the summary
project definition plan together with the station design, which was very
exciting and they were really welcomed by the community. We also announced the
successful contractor for the Tonkin Gap project. As we know, this project will
not only solve probably the worst bottleneck across the transport network, but
also deliver a key part of the Ellenbrook rail line. The successful consortium
comprises BMD, Georgiou Group, WA Limestone, BG&E and GHD. More than 3 000
local jobs are expected to be created and works are expected to commence in
September this year.
We are fast-tracking as many
projects as possible to create jobs and create confidence in Western Australia.
This is part of our COVID recovery plan and it has been made possible only
because of the hard borders and the hotel quarantine measures put in place in
this state by this Premier. The Leader of the Opposition and her Liberal Party have repeatedly opposed these strong measures. The
Leader of the Opposition and her colleagues have been arguing against
the hard border for months and as late as this morning.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP: This was a question about Metronet and Morley. I am curious
how that relates to hotel quarantine and the hard border?
The SPEAKER: I think it is
part of the question. That is not a point of order but a good try.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: The question
includes: ''Can the minister advise the house whether she is aware of
any threats to this government's efforts''. The strong measures
that we have put in place under the leadership of the Premier and the Minister
for Health have been repeatedly opposed by the Liberal Party, which has been
arguing against the hard borders as late as this morning. On 19 May, when the
Leader of the Opposition was asked about the borders,
''If you were Premier, would you reopen the interstate border now?'',
the Leader of the Opposition answered, ''Yes, I would.''
In June, the Leader of the Opposition said words to the effect of, ''We
are one country. We are all Australians. The hard border is nonsense. It is
absolute nonsense.'' In this place, the Leader of the Opposition has
constantly demanded that the borders come down. The Leader of the Opposition is
now claiming that she has been misrepresented over this issue for months. The
Leader of the Opposition cannot hide from the fact that she wanted the borders
down months ago. These negative political attacks have to stop. The Liberal
Party must support the Premier, the Minister for Health, the Chief Health
Officer and the Commissioner of Police in making decisions on behalf of the
whole community.
Businesses
have had it tough, and many are finding it hard to transition back to normal.
We are there trying to assist and trying to help the transition. We have
been able to keep up a level of economic activity through infrastructure and
through the mining and resources sector, and there is no doubt that those hard
borders have led to the community optimism and the economic activity that
exists today. Personally, I am grateful that on the weekend my kids were able
to play their first soccer game, that I could go and have a meal with friends
at a restaurant and that my 81-year-old mother was able to see her
grandchildren. Everyone in Western Australia is grateful for the fact that we
have the opportunities that many across Australia and, in particular, around
the world do not. We know that this would not be possible if Liza Harvey had —
The SPEAKER: Member, you will
call her by her proper title.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: Sorry. This
would not be possible if the Leader of the Opposition had had her way and
removed those hard borders.