PUBLIC TRANSPORT — LIGHT RAIL
604.
Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing
the Minister for Transport:
I refer to
comments made by the minister on 3 September and broadcast on Radio 6PR.
(1) Is the
Minister for Transport genuinely ignorant of the Greens' longstanding
advocacy of light rail, or is he just refusing to acknowledge that the Greens
have been advocating this project since 2007?
(2) Would the
minister appreciate a briefing on the Greens (WA) proposals for light rail in
the Perth metropolitan area?
(3) Will the
minister move for partial federal funding of the project, which the Australian
Greens would be delighted to support?
(4) Given that
board member of Infrastructure Australia Professor Peter Newman has stated that
the light rail could be built much sooner and for less than the projected $1 billion-plus
price tag, will the minister review the six-year project plan?
Hon SIMON O'BRIEN
replied:
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of this question.
(1)–(4) The
Minister for Transport appreciates the Greens' support of light rail,
but notes its lack of practical experience in the delivery of large transport
infrastructure projects.
Several members
interjected.
Hon
SIMON O'BRIEN: We
are building it right now!
Hon
Ken Travers interjected.
Hon SIMON O'BRIEN: And that is why the member is against
light rail in town; we know that. He has other priorities.
The answer I have been provided concludes —
Several members interjected.
The
DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Hon Matt Benson-Lidholm): Order, members!
Hon SIMON O'BRIEN: Thank you, Mr President; I know that the
Greens at least take this subject seriously.
The state government will make further decisions around funding
once more detailed planning has been completed.