Address-in-Reply
Address-in-Reply
Motion
Resumed from an earlier stage of the sitting.
Hon Klara Andric (South Metropolitan Region) (5:38 pm): Thank you very much, Acting President. I rise this evening to provide my Address-in-Reply contribution to His Excellency the Governor Chris Dawson's address to the 42nd Parliament yesterday, 8 April 2025. Similar to what Hon Kate Doust mentioned earlier this afternoon in her Address-in-Reply contribution, I want to begin my Address-in-Reply contribution this evening with some of the Governor's comments yesterday afternoon at the opening of the 42nd Parliament of Western Australia. The Governor stated:
… because, as we can all observe in some parts of the world, that trust and faith in the democratic process is being undermined.
We live in interesting and concerning times. The Governor went on to say:
This Parliament should be a model for a fair and compassionate community, where people, irrespective of their colour, culture or faith, are welcomed, listened to, cared for and represented.
Our state is enriched by people of many cultural backgrounds. There are those in our community who do not all enjoy the full prosperity within this state. This requires a government who cares for our marginalised.
That comment by the Governor yesterday made me stop and think about my own inaugural speech back in May 2021. Some of those issues that the Governor raised yesterday resonated with me to some degree. I will quote from my inaugural speech from four years ago. I said:
In some parts of the world, including the Balkans, where I come from, politics does not always serve its true and intended purpose. Indeed, sometimes it is politics that causes destruction and the devastation of its people.
I went on in my inaugural speech and said:
As a child, I watched the desperation on the faces of refugees who fled from the destruction from other regions of former Yugoslavia and witnessed people from my city, once a magical city, begging for food and basic needs. I stand here today and consider myself one of the lucky ones—lucky because I was fortunate enough to have the security and safety of Australia to go back to. This was not easy for my family, who watched the years of devastation in my home land unfold from the safety of our lounge room, not knowing whether our family would be safe. It was during this time that I realised more than ever the importance of good government—governments who work in the interest of their people to protect them and to properly fulfil their obligations.
Yesterday, the Governor noted the current affairs happening all around the world and the very concerning issues in the regions and across the global stage. I would like to take this opportunity to also mention another component of the Governor's speech yesterday when he stated:
At this year's state election, the people of Western Australia placed their trust in the Cook Labor government to do all of this, providing a clear mandate for the commitments that the government made to the community at the election.
We all know that is very important to us and for our government. I will be taking the opportunity this evening to outline some of the key areas and policies that our government plans to implement over the course of the next term that we serve here in Parliament.
I want to congratulate my colleagues in both houses, those re-elected and newly elected members of Parliament alike. I would like to acknowledge the members of Parliament who are retiring. Although I know many of them have been mentioned in the Address-in-Reply debate this afternoon, I want to again mention Hon Darren West and also Hon Martin Pritchard, who gave his valedictory speech this afternoon. Obviously, I have to acknowledge Hon Sue Ellery, who was very instrumental in my path to this place and this house where I stand today. I also thank Hon Dr Sally Talbot for her service. They are incredible people who served on our side of the chamber for many, many years. Hon Kate Doust reminded me of just how long it has been and how many elections she has worked on, which frightened me!
Hon Kate Doust: I mentioned the number I have been a candidate for. I have been here for four elections now.
Hon Klara Andric: Goodness me! Either way, it is many elections. As I said to the member when she was on her feet earlier today, it makes me feel very tired!
Many members of Parliament have served our community very well. I want to acknowledge them today. I congratulate Premier Roger Cook for his leadership that led WA Labor to an incredible election win on 8 March 2025.
I also use this opportunity this this evening to thank, as I call it, the engine room of the WA Labor Party for their outstanding efforts during the campaign election period in 2025. Of course, I thank our incredible volunteers, without whom none of us would be here. There is something very, very special about Labor volunteers and their determination and dedication. It is second to none. I am pretty sure that across our state they are incredibly devoted to the cause. They understand why we do this. Alongside us, they believe in the good values of the WA Labor Party and our government.
One of those fantastic volunteers was my 18-year-old, Angela, who was out there on the very first day of pre-polling. Unfortunately, it was very hot at the industrial site in Jandakot, with no shade, parking or trees, but she braved the heat all day to make sure that she put out the good word to those people who were going to vote about why it was important to vote Labor at the state election. Unfortunately for her, the Liberal candidate for Jandakot, Nicole Robins, was her former teacher for, I think, three or four years at Kennedy Baptist College. It was an interesting alignment. I told Nicole Robins that unfortunately for her, my daughter had chosen Labor, because she knows exactly what side of politics she sits on. We had a pretty good banter during the very long two-week pre-polling when many of us were standing there. I want to thank our amazing volunteers for their efforts and often braving some very unfriendly conditions. It certainly was a test to our endurance on many occasions. I thank team Jandakot. I was the director of the Jandakot campaign. I think we ran a very solid campaign for an important seat in the south metropolitan region. If I can be honest, we worked harder and we had the better candidate. The Western Australian people saw that on the day. The election results speak for themselves.
I was very lucky to have my 18-year-old, who is very committed to our political movement, join us in the public gallery yesterday for the opening of the 42nd Parliament. She thought it was very exciting to see all that unfold before her eyes. It is wonderful to have young adults participating in our democracy, which is very important. It was delightful to have her here with me yesterday to be part of that very special occasion.
I mentioned earlier that the Governor talked in his address about some of the government's plans and what we hope to achieve. I want to take this opportunity to outline some of the key priorities that will shape the state of WA for not only the next four years, but also generations to come. With the opening of the 42nd Parliament, we are all reminded of the shared responsibility that we bear in shaping a future that is built on opportunity, fairness and sustainable prosperity.
Challenges and opportunities lie ahead for each and every single one of us. We stand resolutely committed to a future in which every family, every worker and every young person is given a fair chance to succeed. Today, members, I speak to you not simply as a member of the Legislative Council but also on behalf of the people of Western Australia, who believe in a stronger and fairer, but also more sustainable, future. Those of us who have the honour and privilege of standing in this house can reflect on the essential role that each and every one of us plays in shaping our state.
As members know, Western Australia is at a pivotal moment in which every single policy decision, every investment and every innovative solution will contribute to the long-term prosperity of the communities within our state. Western Australia is in fact the state with the strongest economy in the nation. With that strength comes both capacity and the obligation to invest wisely in our future. We must invest in things that are very dear to me and to probably every single person in this chamber, and that is the education of our young, the infrastructure of our communities and an economy that works for everyone. The Cook Labor government understands that behind every policy and every budget measure are real people—families who are raising children, hardworking individuals who are building careers and young people like my Andjela, who is 18 years old, who are dreaming big. It is for them—the people of Western Australia—that we undertake the work that is before each and every single one of us here today. We remain accountable to them every day to ensure that our policies and our priorities are designed to enhance their lives.
One of the cornerstones of our government's priorities is education. WA Labor and the Cook Labor team believe that every child in Western Australia, regardless of the postcode in which they reside, deserves access to a world-class learning environment. I am proud of the Cook Labor government's commitment of $745 million to the school infrastructure fund. This substantial investment, which is set to transform the educational landscape of our state, is broken down into several components, which I will outline in my contribution to the Address-in-Reply debate today.
Firstly, the Cook Labor government is allocating $450 million to the construction of new schools. This is not simply an investment in buildings; this investment will go beyond that to our children. Each new school represents the promise of opportunity, is a nurturing ground to develop critical skills and is the launching pad of tomorrow's innovation.
Secondly, $200 million will be spent on upgrades to and modernisation of existing schools. Our children deserve facilities that are adapted to the demands of the 21st century. These upgrades will include refurbishing classrooms to enhance functionality, installing modern teaching technology and seeing that every learning environment is not only safe, but also inspiring to the children of our state. For our specialist facilities, whether they be science labs, art rooms or libraries, this form of investment will provide better resources and equipment for our kids across our schools and across those departments. It will also make sure that our educational institutions remain at the forefront of innovation and learning.
A critical element of these upgrades is the "Cool the Schools" initiative, a program that will invest $89 million to modernise the climate-control systems in 45 of our public schools right across Western Australia. By replacing outdated and often broken or non-functional systems—often inefficient gas heating systems—with modern ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning, we are taking decisive action to create safe and comfortable learning environments for our kids. This initiative will improve the physical comfort of not only our students in classrooms, but also our teachers, which is equally important. It will also enhance energy efficiency, contributing to our broader commitment to reduce emissions as well.
Additionally, an allocation of $6 million will go towards specialist learning facilities. These spaces are designed to cater to unique educational needs and provide tailored learning experiences that prepare our students for what we can all see is a rapidly changing world in which we live.
The comprehensive $745 million school infrastructure fund is a testament to our belief that education is the foundation upon which our future is built. It is certainly the foundation upon which our children's future is built. In providing our children with the best-possible facilities today, we are laying the very important groundwork for a more skilled and adaptable workforce of tomorrow. As I am sure all members know, this workforce will be built on the foundation of what we create today.
Also central to our government's vision is the commitment to ease the cost-of-living pressures that many families in Western Australia face. We all know that financial pressures affect not only the household budget, but also the overall wellbeing of our communities. That is why the Cook Labor government's approach to tackling this is twofold. We are introducing practical measures that will put money back into the pockets of Western Australians and create new pathways for new local jobs that will stimulate our economy from within. Among the initiatives that will directly support families is something that is very important and I know was welcomed by the people of Western Australia, and that is the WA student assistance payment. This program is designed to help parents manage the rising costs associated with the education of their children. It is very difficult for some families to meet those costs. As we all know, schools are expensive and education is costly. Some parents are unfortunately finding themselves in a situation in which they cannot afford it.
On another note, I am also very pleased to see that our government is working within the school system. I was delighted to hear just recently that more children will visit Rottnest Island as part of the school camps program. We sometimes hear that families are struggling. That is probably one thing that hits me the most because you do not want any child to go without, but that is the reality for some families.
It is really important; it is lovely and good to see those children going to Rottnest Island. As a government, we should be stepping in to ensure that children do not miss out on these incredible opportunities regardless of their postcode. Not every child gets to go to Rottnest; that is a fact. I know that many children do not experience it until they are well into their adulthood, but that is not to say that that is okay. I am very pleased that the Cook Labor government is taking these initiatives to ensure that these families can send their kids on some of these school visits and camps and that they do not miss out, which would be the case if the state government were not providing this support.
As I said earlier, raising and educating children can be very expensive. Under this program, primary and kindergarten families will receive $150 per child and families with secondary students will receive $250 per child. This payment will certainly help to offset expenses relating to uniforms, shoes, excursions, stationery and many other school-related costs that parents face on a daily basis. I was pleased to hear that this payment is scheduled to be distributed to parents in term 2. This follows the successful implementation of the student assistance payment last year, when over 400,000 students benefited from this program. The parents benefited and, in turn, the children benefited.
The Cook Labor government stands by its commitment to see that the benefits of our robust economy are shared fairly across every section of our community. By supporting families in this tangible manner, we are not merely offering financial relief; we are investing in the future of our children and empowering families to build a stronger, more secure future for themselves.
In today's interconnected world, a reliable, efficient public transport system is the artery of economic and social progress. I do not think there is a member in this house who would disagree with this. This is exactly why I am proud to speak on the Cook Labor government's initiative to make public transport in Perth simpler and more affordable for everyone. Under the one-zone fare proposal, we are replacing the existing two-zone fare structure with a single flat fare of $2.80 for all public transport users equipped with a SmartRider card. This change will apply on our entire Transperth system across the network, including lines from Yanchep to Mandurah, Ellenbrook and Fremantle, extending all the way out into Byford. I believe that for many regular commuters, this simplified fare structure that we have created will result in an average annual saving of $625, which will make travel across our state not only easier, but also a lot more affordable. I commend the government for this fantastic initiative. I am a big believer in public transport. I believe that it is crucial to all cities. I certainly know that when I have had the luxury of travelling beyond our great state or country, it is something that always pops out to me, and I base my opinion of other cities from around the world on how their transport system works and how interconnected they are. I know that there is a correlation between good, efficient public transport and better living standards. I believe that we as a government, certainly on our side, have done that incredibly well. Metronet has played a very important role in creating not only the state we live in now, but also what our state will look like in the future.
This reform is more than just a change in how much commuters will pay across our great state. It is more than just numbers on a ticket. It is a bold affirmation that, like me, our government believes in the importance of connectivity and mobility. Hon Rita Saffioti has been leading the way I would say across the nation in transport and infrastructure. I commend all her work and effort in ensuring that WA is not left behind when it comes to transport and that we compete with other major cities across Australia.
We believe in the importance of connectivity and mobility, and we have shown that by making sure every Western Australian has access to affordable and efficient public transport. We are building stronger and more interconnected areas within our state and across the metropolitan region and beyond. This policy is a very clear statement that we are dedicated to easing the everyday burdens on families and workers, ensuring that our economic prosperity is shared by all. That is a foundation of our party and a foundation that I would say everyone, certainly on our side, would share with me.
As our economy continues to grow, the demand for robust infrastructure becomes more critical than ever before. I am delighted to discuss this evening our government's fantastic announcement to widen the Kwinana Freeway. This project is set to have a transformative impact on both local communities and regional connectivity. It is a project that is actually very close to my heart, having moved into the suburb of Atwell back in 2001 or 2002 when there were still traffic lights on the freeway. It certainly did not look like it looks today. There were pockets and areas of that southern corridor in which we had almost overnight—certainly within five to 10 years—such an influx of people with new housing estates opening and developing all across that region. Unfortunately, at that time, when we saw this massive influx and population growth within those regions, we were under a government that did not believe in public transport, and unfortunately it did not invest. We kept seeing population growth but no infrastructure to support the people moving into those southern corridors. When I lived near that part of the Kwinana Freeway, it took me 35 minutes to commute from Atwell to the Cockburn Gateway Shopping Centre. I know that the honourable member David Scaife would know about that commute, being the member for Cockburn, and former member for Cockburn Hon Fran Logan would certainly know about that commute, because I am sure he got letters nearly every day about how absurd it was that it took sometimes 25 to 45 minutes to get from A to B—a distance of two to three kilometres at most. At that time, in 2013, I was the candidate for Jandakot, and I recall us making a commitment to build the North Lake Road Bridge flyover.
Unfortunately, we were not successful at the 2013 election. I am sure that Hon Peter Collier recalls that election as a fine day, but I disagree. The Labor Party committed to build the North Lake Road Bridge flyover, as did Liberal Party candidate Hon Joe Francis, who was successful at the 2013 election. Unfortunately, honourable member, nine years later we did not have a bridge and it had reached the point at which people could not get to their local shops without spending an incredible amount of time in their vehicles. But, thankfully, after the election win of my very dear and good friend Yaz Mubarakai, Labor honoured the commitment it presented in 2013 when it was elected to government in 2017. We did not sit on that election commitment for nine years; rather, we implemented our promise. It was wonderful that something we had been waiting for in that part of the southern corridor would come to fruition thanks to the hard work of the great local member in addition to surrounding members such as former member Fran Logan. What I am trying to get at is that governments should not build infrastructure to fix a problem. Governments have to have initiative and work hard to see what problems may arise before they happen. Transport infrastructure are the arteries of our communities, and we need to work to ensure that the infrastructure is put in before there is a problem otherwise that problem could become very big and very costly. It is more than just building for now; it is about building for the future. Good governments think about what transport infrastructure is needed for not only imminent population growth but population growth over the next 10 to 15 years. Good governments do not make election promises and not fulfil them—and not fulfil them for nine years. That is in fact what not to do, honourable members.
Hon Samantha Rowe mentioned that she spoke with her nieces and nephews who are visiting from Melbourne. This morning my 18-year-old, who I have mentioned far too many times in this speech, asked me what we were debating in Parliament today. I told her that we were debating the Address-in-Reply to the Governor's speech. She was here for the opening of Parliament and knew what he said. She told me that I should talk about the righting of Kwinana Freeway. I told her that I would be mentioning that. She told me that her friend, whose name I will not mention because I do not have her approval, lives just off the pocket where the widening will happen. She said to Andjela, "I voted Labor because when I heard that they were widening that part of the freeway—that's exactly what we need." This came from an 18-year-old or 19-year-old during a discussion with my daughter. Andjela said I should mention that people voted for Labor because of its promise to widen the freeway. One of her very good friends told her how important it was. She said the massive commute to and from work has a big impact on her life and she wants the widening to happen. That just shows the importance of making sure that we build the right infrastructure in our state. I am glad that the Cook Labor government has been doing that since 2017.
We are committed to adding extra lanes southbound on Kwinana Freeway. The crucial section is exactly where I live, which is between the sections of Russell Road and Roe Highway. The project is designed to ease the significant bottlenecks that affect the more than 50,000 vehicles that traverse that corridor daily and an incredible number of people. I do not know what the southern corridor and Kwinana Freeway would look like today if not for the Perth to Mandurah rail line. It would be a gridlock with traffic not being able to move. I congratulate our government for having the foresight back then in—gosh, Minister Dawson will have to remind me when Labor first announced the Perth to Mandurah line. It would have been in 2006 or 2007.
Hon Stephen Dawson: Yes.
Hon Klara Andric: It was a long time ago, but our government had the vision. We knew what we needed, and we built it, and that is what we will continue to do because we understand that traffic bottlenecks have a big impact on people. By introducing wider lanes and smarter merging designs, we are also integrating smart freeway technology to manage traffic issues in real time which, in turn, will improve safety, enhance traffic flow and reduce the risks of accidents, which is very important. It is important to reduce the number of deaths on our roads. Through these measures and by implementing these components on our roads, we look forward to saving as many lives as we can. The upgrades will particularly benefit commuters in the southern corridor where I live and those in communities across the region from Cockburn, as I mentioned earlier, to the Premier's electorate in Kwinana and even further south to Magenta Marshall's electorate of Rockingham and to Mandurah. All these areas will benefit from the widening that will take place. These measures will also ensure that we have a much more efficient commuting experience across the region, which is what people want at the day. People will use public transport if it is viable and works and of benefit to them. I refer, for example, to the cost of parking in the Perth CBD versus the cost of commuting to the city on public transport.
Investing in infrastructure is part of Labor's broader plan to support the population growth that I talked about earlier and facilitate trade so that our transport networks are prepared for not only the challenges they face today, but also those they will face in the future. Together with complementary investments in Metronet projects and the expansion of Park "n" Ride stations, the freeway upgrades stand as a testament to our commitment to innovation, safety and economic development.
Western Australia is blessed to have a robust economy. The President is looking at me.
The President: Thank you, honourable member, for taking note.
Debate adjourned, on motion by Hon Peter Foster.
