FORRESTFIELD–AIRPORT LINK —
FIREFIGHTING
575. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Transport:
I have a supplementary question. Can the minister explain why
the firefighters themselves are expressing concerns about the safety aspects of
the soon to be open Forrestfield–Airport Link?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI
replied:
As I said, we are working very constructively with the
Department of Fire and Emergency Services. There have been significant training
exercises and there continue to be exercises to make sure that we are ready to
go. As I said, if the member wants to undermine it, he can do it. He has
undermined every part of Metronet. He comes in here today to move a motion to
criticise it again. He tries to say that he wants to appeal to densely
populated areas, but he has undermined every project and he continues to do so.
The Nationals WA is offended by everything. It plays the country–city
divide on everything. I am proud of the work that is undertaken by those people
across the state. Over 10 000 workers are currently delivering Metronet.
Members opposite insult every road project, they insult the workers and the
teams and the contracting companies, and then they wonder why no-one wants to
talk to them. They insult them all! This is a truly magnificent project.
Already I know that other states will be jealous of the quality of this
project. It will be a grand statement and something that all Western Australians
will be proud of. When we open on that community day, we are going to have a lot
of activities. There will be a sausage sizzle, there will be rides, there will be a lot of activities to show all Western
Australians—families living in the area and families across the
suburbs—that this is the project. We will be inviting people from
densely populated areas. The member might want to come along so that he can
appeal to them! They will be proud of the project that we have delivered.
The SPEAKER: Members, that concludes question time. I remind
members that there will be a dinner break between 6.00 and 7.00 this evening.