Transport—Infrastructure
254. Mr Rhys Williamsto theMinister for Transport:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to connect Western Australians through quality public transport.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how this government is transforming Perth's outer suburbs through targeted infrastructure investment?
(2) Can the minister advise the house whether she is aware of any opposition to this government's plan for better access, quality and equity through modern transport infrastructure?
Ms Rita Saffioti replied:
(1)-(2) I thank the member for Mandurah for that question. Yesterday in the whole range of speeches given by members on the other side, we heard their pure hatred of Metronet come out yet again—their pure hatred of people in the suburbs getting connected to world-class public transport. Over the past year, the extension of the rail line to Yanchep, the Morley–Ellenbrook rail line, the Thornlie–Cockburn Link and the elevated rail projects have been completed. We have seen thousands of people jump on board to catch these new train services across the suburbs. Opposition speaker after opposition speaker basically said that they do not care about people who want to catch public transport in this state. Yesterday in a debate on housing, opposition members said that we should not build any transport infrastructure to connect houses to anywhere; we should just build houses with no roads and no rail line. That would be the planning under a Liberal–National government. Yesterday, the Leader of the National Party said:
I do not know whether members have had a look at a map of the city of Perth at the moment or flown up the north coast, but when you get past Joondalup there is a very skinny little development of blocks between the freeway and the beach.
Did we know that there is no development past Joondalup? I do not think that is correct.
Mr Mark Folkard interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Do you exist? I thought you needed a constituency to be here, member! Do you exist? I do not think the member for Mindarie exists. Does the member for Butler exist or does she represent imaginary people? These are just some of the suburbs north of Joondalup: Iluka, Currambine, Burns Beach, Kinross, Clarkson, Mindarie, Ridgewood, Quinns Rock, Jindalee, Butler, Alkimos, Eglinton, Yanchep and Two Rocks. That is a quick summation of some of the suburbs north of Joondalup. What the Leader of the Nationals had to say about Ellenbrook is one of my favourites:
… but I did drive down there. I was shocked to see train stations sitting out in cow paddocks! There will not be too many passengers on those trains until you actually build houses.
I downloaded our version from Nearmap.
Mr David Michael interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Yes, at least he got out of inner-city Perth.
Look at Morley, everybody! There are quite a few houses around Morley. They are not cow paddocks! Look at Noranda, members—a lot of houses. Look at Ballajura, members—a lot of houses. Look at Brabham—a lot of houses and more to come. Look at Ellenbrook—thousands upon thousands upon thousands. I do not think that member has ever gone to the suburbs. He is either in the inner-city or visiting some country town occasionally.
A government member interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Or Clive Palmer's jet—good point!
Of course, the Liberal Party has complete disdain for people in the suburbs. Its view of Western Australia is that people should not be catching public transport. We are so proud of the fact that we are connecting people living in the suburbs. For eight years—now for the ninth—members opposite have again and again rejected policies that assist people in the suburbs. What we have seen in this budget response is exactly what we have seen for the past eight years—a complete refusal to accept that people live in the suburbs and that they need world-class infrastructure and services.
