LAND-BACKED
PORT — KWINANA
849. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for Ports:
I
refer to the McGowan Labor government's investment in job creating
economic driving projects, including Westport.
(1) Can the minister update the
house on the way to deliver a land-backed port in Kwinana?
(2) Can the minister outline to the house what level
of support this project has received from industry and the broader Western
Australia community?
Ms R.
SAFFIOTI replied:
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Bicton for that question.
We have always held a long-term plan to build a new port in the outer harbour and that plan is coming to
realisation. This plan has had bipartisan support for decades. We have
already made the decision that there will be a land-backed port in Kwinana. We
are currently undertaking the detailed freight corridor design. That includes
the design of the Anketell Road corridor. It also includes the design of the
port and all the environmental studies. We have commissioned a study into
Cockburn Sound, with $13 million dedicated to it. For the first time, there
will be a true, full study into the water quality of Cockburn Sound to make
sure the environment is at the top of our considerations in determining the
final part of the port. We passed the Beeliar wetlands legislation, which
protects the Beeliar wetlands forever and makes sure that it is no longer
possible for the Perth Freight Link to be on anyone's agenda in the
future.
We
have started work on the future of Fremantle, understanding that the future of
Fremantle will need to have its own economic
drivers. We are looking at how we can make sure that Fremantle continues to
grow in the future, encompassing new economic drivers and, of course,
being very proud of its strong maritime history. In the past, this has had
bipartisan support. In 2011, a reputable source, the former Minister for
Transport, Troy Buswell, stated —
''Extensive research has shown
that Cockburn Sound is the only suitable location for new container-handling
port ��
We now know the current Leader of the
Liberal Party, the member for Cottesloe. The current —
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: Members, the
Liberal Party is the only political party in the world for which the leadership
can be determined by a game of paper scissors rock!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Order, please,
members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: It is the
only political party in the world for which the leadership can be determined by
a game of paper scissors rock —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for
Vasse!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: — or
flipping a coin!
The
current Leader of the Liberal Party is a big supporter. ''The Clan''
pointed that out in their exchanges, saying that the Leader of the Liberal
Party hated Roe 8 and was a big supporter of Westport. But we now know, of
course, to get that temporary leadership, the member for Cottesloe has had to
give that all away and is now opposed to Westport. The key question is: what
does the next Leader of the Liberal Party believe in? Remember, the next Leader
of the Liberal Party, the member for Vasse, was behind that highly successful
campaign ''Honk for Roe 8''. It was a highly successful
campaign! The member is very, very big on policy detail. She believes the
transport policy of the future has to encompass flying cars, members! Do not
worry about trains or e-rideables, we are talking flying cars.
New
members might not remember this, but some of us who have been in here for a few
years remember when, at the height of COVID, the member for Vasse posted
a picture from 2012—under the previous government—of passengers
crammed onto a train. During the height of COVID, when people were very, very
fearful, she said that the Premier was allowing a crush on our trains and no
social distancing.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Order, please.
Mr S.A. Millman interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for Mount
Lawley!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: She posted
the picture in 2020 —
Point of Order
Mr V.A. CATANIA:
Point of order.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER: Points of order will be heard in silence.
Mr V.A. CATANIA: Under
standing order 78, the Minister for Transport is not answering the government's
own Dorothy Dixer.
The SPEAKER: Minister, it is
not a point of order. However, you were asked a question as Minister for Ports
and your answer has been quite lengthy, so I ask you to draw it to a close.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: So that was
the truthfulness of the member for Vasse.
As we know, it does not matter who
wins the game of paper scissors rock, because the Liberal Party continues to be
controlled by the ''The Clan'' from the other house. It does not
matter which leader calls heads or goes rock; it is all depends on what those
puppeteers in the other place determine, because that is who controls the
Liberal Party today. I know the party is looking for a saviour from outside
Parliament; they keep looking.
Dr A.D. Buti: There's
Tony.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: It is a notable
member of the ''The Clan'', members—welcome.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: Of course,
the Leader of the Liberal Party —
Mr R.S. Love: Point of order.
The SPEAKER: You do not need
to make the point of order. I think we will just move on to the next question.
You are all having way too much fun.