Burswood Park motorplex
398. Ms Sandra Brewerto theMinister for Transport:
I refer to the racetrack at Burswood.
(1) Has a business case been completed?
(2) Will the minister proceed with the racetrack now that the assistant minister to the Prime Minister has indicated that federal funding is unlikely due to the fact that he does not support it?
Ms Rita Saffioti replied:
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Cottesloe for that question. Of course, the member for Cottesloe, I think last time we were in the house, had to scurry out of the Parliament after she lost control. Did members see all that, where she lost control and had to scurry out of the Parliament? I think it is pretty clear that we are committed to delivering an incredible sports and entertainment precinct in Burswood.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, you have asked the minister a question. Allow her to respond.
Ms Rita Saffioti: As I have said on many occasions, we are about looking to the future, looking beyond the commentary, the commentators—
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, I am calling you to order for the first time.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Looking to the future, all of us have a responsibility to create the jobs, the vibrancy and the opportunities for future generations. I am very passionate about that. The opposition, the Liberal Party members, have opposed pretty much everything I have done. They opposed the Ellenbrook rail line. They said there was no-one living there. They opposed the Yanchep extension, saying there was no-one living there. They do not like the Byford rail line extension. They reckon there is no-one living there. They have opposed pretty much everything I have done. I have had death threats on taxi reform. I remember when I modified the Nedlands planning scheme. It was vicious, and there was commentary after commentary. Everything I have done, such as the Boorloo Bridge, the Leader of the Opposition opposed. Pretty much every project we on this side have delivered has been opposed by the opposition.
Ms Sandra Brewer: It's being opposed by federal Labor.
Ms Rita Saffioti: It has been opposed by the opposition.
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe, you asked a question. Let the minister respond.
Ms Rita Saffioti: We do not expect any money from the federal government for this project. We never asked for it; we do not expect—
Ms Sandra Brewer: Why did the Premier write to ask for it?
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe—
Mr Basil Zempilas: The Premier said in his letter—
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe, I am calling you to order for the first time.
Mr John Carey: Out of control, Cottesloe! Out of control.
The Speaker: Minister.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Out of control. The Leader of the Opposition made a state conference not about the future of Western Australia but about himself. He was standing up, saying there was some sort of divine intervention that brought this person to this Parliament. I mean, honestly! The ego is beyond description, and we are seeing it at play—look at that look now. It is an ego—
Ms Sandra Brewer: You're obsessed with him. You are!
Several members interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I would say: we do not need to be obsessed with him because he is obsessed with himself.
I do not think we need to be worried about that because anyone who builds an entire conference not about health, not about any policy, but just—
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: It was all about himself—that everything has led to this point.
Point of order
Mr Liam Staltari: Mr Speaker, the Treasurer was asked a very specific question about the business case for a racetrack and she has somehow reverted to type on these pre-prepared talking points.
A minister interjected.
The Speaker: Minister, I am going to call you for the first time as well. Member for Carine, I will not uphold that point of order. The minister is actually putting in context her response to the question. She will conclude her remarks about the question, surely.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: The Leader of the Opposition said:
It has dawned on me in recent times that actually, that first career, the broadcast career—
The commentary—
was the career that was preparing me for this one
That is from the newspaper. Zempilas told the party, "The one that I am meant to be here for."
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Does the member want to talk about polling? The member wants to talk about polling! Let us go back to the secret polling that the Leader of the Opposition did on the poor deputy leader. Remember the secret was—
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, we are not talking about possum polling. Minister—
Ms Rita Saffioti interjected.
The Speaker: Minister, have you finished?
Ms Rita Saffioti: I was just finishing the quote about him.
399. Ms Sandra Brewer to the Treasurer:
I have a supplementary question. Why is the government proceeding with the racetrack when the federal Member for Perth has clearly expressed community concerns?
Ms Rita Saffioti replied:
It is a very interesting question. As far as I can see, we are a state government that was democratically elected a few months back, and we took this to the election. As far as I can see, we were elected on a whole range of different projects and programs, which we are delivering. Leader, member for Cottesloe—the "no-alition" is there! The member used to be out there as pro development. Do you remember?
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe!
Ms Rita Saffioti: Remember when the previous Premier went out for a press conference—
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Hang on, minister. Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: When the former Premier went out for a press conference, and the member for Cottesloe heard about it, it was start the car! She was out there wanting to be beside then Premier Mark McGowan. The then pro—
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition! Member for Cottesloe, you have asked the question, so let the minister respond.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Remember that? The member for Cottesloe who was pro development.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, I am calling you for the second time.
Ms Rita Saffioti: You think that bothers me? I mean, as I understand, that former Premier was advising the Leader of the Opposition on his Lord Mayoral campaign. I never sought that advice and I never received those emails as the Leader of the Opposition did with that former Premier.
We are very proud of our record of delivery. As I said, there will always be negativity, but you know what? We are about moving the state forward, and about ensuring we create jobs and opportunities. I am very proud of the set of commitments we took to the election and the fact that—
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition! Leader of the Opposition, I am calling you for the second time. Member for Cottesloe, I am calling you for the second time as well.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The Leader of the Opposition makes everything about himself. The national state conference was about himself. We are about delivering programs and projects for the people of Western Australia.
