❓ Opposition MP Zempilas questions the Premier about cost blowouts in infrastructure projects and the Burswood racetrack project's budget. The Premier deflects, accusing the opposition of elitism and highlighting the project's benefits.
AnsweredQoN 260Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Burswood Park motorplex
260. Mr Basil Zempilas to
the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to deliver quality infrastructure projects on
time and on budget.
(1) Can
the Premier confirm that costs for 73% of projects that were 2021 election
commitments have blown out in the last five years?
(2) Given
those blowouts, how can Western Australians believe that the Burswood racetrack
project will be delivered at exactly $217.5 million?
260. Mr Basil Zempilas to
the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to deliver quality infrastructure projects on
time and on budget.
(1) Can
the Premier confirm that costs for 73% of projects that were 2021 election
commitments have blown out in the last five years?
(2) Given
those blowouts, how can Western Australians believe that the Burswood racetrack
project will be delivered at exactly $217.5 million?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The
Liberal elites are at it again. Here we go, Mr Speaker. Every time they come
into Parliament they attack something that the Western Australian public
actually likes. They cannot bear the thought that we would actually—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: The elites over there just cannot bear
the thought that public resources will go into something like a great community
asset, such as an outdoor amphitheatre, cycling opportunities, hospitality
opportunities and a motor sports facility. They are obsessed with the idea that
somehow your average West Aussie will get access to the Swan River foreshore. They
know that is their domain. That is what they are after. They are after their
exclusive entitlement to riverfront property. We know that they hate motorsports,
but we believe that this will be a very important facility and one that the
Western Australian public will embrace. It is important that we continue to
invest in the sorts of hospitality and tourism infrastructure that will keep
our economy moving forward. This will create thousands of jobs in not only
construction, but also as we put major events on at this facility. It is a
great setting between our major football stadium and our major casino resort.
It will be a great facility for West Aussies everywhere. We will let the budget
papers speak for themselves and we will continue to work on this project. As
members opposite will attest, the early works are going on at the moment and we
will make sure that we provide it for the people of WA.
Liberal elites are at it again. Here we go, Mr Speaker. Every time they come
into Parliament they attack something that the Western Australian public
actually likes. They cannot bear the thought that we would actually—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: The elites over there just cannot bear
the thought that public resources will go into something like a great community
asset, such as an outdoor amphitheatre, cycling opportunities, hospitality
opportunities and a motor sports facility. They are obsessed with the idea that
somehow your average West Aussie will get access to the Swan River foreshore. They
know that is their domain. That is what they are after. They are after their
exclusive entitlement to riverfront property. We know that they hate motorsports,
but we believe that this will be a very important facility and one that the
Western Australian public will embrace. It is important that we continue to
invest in the sorts of hospitality and tourism infrastructure that will keep
our economy moving forward. This will create thousands of jobs in not only
construction, but also as we put major events on at this facility. It is a
great setting between our major football stadium and our major casino resort.
It will be a great facility for West Aussies everywhere. We will let the budget
papers speak for themselves and we will continue to work on this project. As
members opposite will attest, the early works are going on at the moment and we
will make sure that we provide it for the people of WA.
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