LIVE EXPORT
274. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I take
it from the Premier's response that he backs live export. Could this $2
million study funding not be better spent repairing the dilapidated facilities
at Fremantle port?
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
I do not know what the member is
referring to, but I went down to Fremantle port this morning with the Minister for Planning and the member for Fremantle and
announced a $20.5 million package—again, something that probably
escaped the member—to revitalise Fremantle port and ensure that we can
deal with the issues of live sheep export, the car importation industry and
improving the status, state and ambience of the area so that Gage Roads and
other industries can set up there and create hundreds if not thousands of jobs
in what should be a premier employment precinct. I might also add, since the
member raised the Fremantle port, that we are investing $3.5 million in
refurbishing HMAS Ovens, the submarine that sits there as not only a tourist
attraction, but also a demonstration of Australia's naval heritage.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN: That is right;
$3.5 million is a lot cheaper than the $5.5 billion they have given to the
French in return for an insult!
We are investing $3.5 million to
refurbish HMAS Ovens, one of our Oberon-class submarines. It was built
in Greenock, Scotland, by the way, in the
1970s, based upon a World War II German U-boat design. That is just a little
bit of history for members.
The member talks about $2 million,
when we announced $20.5 million this morning and he is complaining. I do not
really get it. Yesterday, the Minister for Planning; Transport was able to
announce important improvements in the grain
freight rail network that members opposite closed when they were in office. The
National Party closed down rail freight for grain movements when it was
in office. Labor in office is reopening them, yet members opposite come in here and complain. If only their
constituents could actually see them in action! I think it would be quite an
eye-opener to them. We might actually find in some of those towns out there—Mukinbudin,
Koorda, Bruce Rock and so forth—a massive swing to Labor if they saw
members opposite in action. I urge the press and Hansard and the like to
start promoting question time more fully so that people can really appreciate
it.
A government member: Outdoor
cinemas!
Mr M. McGOWAN: That is right;
perhaps put it into the cinemas, run it live every night on Channel Seven and
the ABC, repeats of what happened in question time today! It would be
enlightening for the people of the state and I am sure it would rate well.
But the answer to the member's
question, essentially, is I have answered it. We are investing in Fremantle
port and we are investing in regional transport, more so than ever under the
last National government.