❓ Mr Hunter questions the prioritisation of the Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network. Ms Saffioti affirms the government's investment in regional roads, criticising the opposition's past record and highlighting current funding programs.

Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network93.Mr Lachlan Hunterto theMinister for Transport:I refer to the Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network, a longstanding partnership between the state government, local governments and the Commonwealth government, which has now been removed from the state government's infrastructure priority list, despite the Wheatbelt recording some of the worst road safety outcomes in Western Australia.Can the minister confirm that the Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network is no longer treated as a funding priority by her government?

Ms Rita Saffioti replied:There is nothing like the Nationals asking about road spending that gets me excited! When in government—Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member! The minister has not even started her response.Ms Rita Saffioti:Like I said, there is nothing like a discussion about road funding in regional WA, where WA Labor is spending a record amount. I know the "MetroNats" do not get out very often; they live on the CAT bus route, so they do not get out there. They bring in their four-wheel drives and put fake dirt on the side with those little spray bottles to pretend—Several members interjected.The Speaker:Minister!Ms Rita Saffioti:They are big supporters of—Several members interjected.The Speaker:Minister for Planning and Lands!Ms Rita Saffioti:—the CAT bus extensions because they use them every day.Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt, please stop interjecting, and you will get a supplementary question.Ms Rita Saffioti:We are rolling out a record amount on regional roads through our Regional Road Safety Program. We are rolling out a record amount of funding in—Point of orderMr Lachlan Hunter:Point of order, Mr Speaker!The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt, this would have to be a pretty good point of order or—Mr Lachlan Hunter:I asked a very specific question about the infrastructure priority list and the Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network, and the minister has gone nowhere near it.The Speaker:Member, there is no point of order. Misuse of points of order or standing orders is against standing orders. The minister is a minute into her response. She can build the background to answering your question, and she is getting there.Questions without notice resumedMs Rita Saffioti:I know it is very hard for the member for Central Wheatbelt to respect anybody in this house. We have seen his performance, in particular last week in his disrespect—Withdrawal of remarkMr Shane Love:I ask that the minister withdraw that unfounded comment about the member for Central Wheatbelt.Several members interjected.The Speaker:Members! Minister, can you please withdraw that.Ms Rita Saffioti:Sorry, what did I say?The Speaker:Just withdraw it, please.Ms Rita Saffioti:I actually do not remember what was offensive.The Speaker:Then just say withdraw.Ms Rita Saffioti:Honestly, I cannot actually remember what I said. What did I say that was—Several members interjected.The Speaker:No; this is not open for discussion. Please just say you withdraw.Ms Rita Saffioti:I withdraw.The Speaker:Thank you.Ms Sabine Winton: Rephrase it.The Speaker:No. Minister for Education, I am calling you for the first time.Questions without notice resumedMs Rita Saffioti:In relation to Wheatbelt spending, we have invested a record amount in black spot funding, a record amount in regional road spending and a record amount to local governments. We continue to roll out spending on the Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network. Of course, we have invested more in regional road spending not only for state roads, but we have started a program to fund local government roads. We have spent more on Wheatbelt roads than the opposition ever did. The then Leader of the National Party said Royalties for Regions was not for roads. The Leader of the National Party said that. It sold off the freight—Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt!Several members interjected.The Speaker:Member for Mid-West!Mr Shane Love:The federal Leader of the National Party funded it.Ms Rita Saffioti:The Leader of the National Party is right; it was a partnership between this Labor government and the then federal Liberal–National government. Where were you the previous eight years? It was us who started the program. It was a state Labor Party that started the program. As I said, we have invested across all measures—the Regional Road Safety Program, grants to local governments for regional road safety programs and through the Western Australian Local Government Association agreement, black spot funding and the regional supply chain program. About 10 programs is a record amount.Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, I am calling you for the first time. Please stop interjecting.Ms Rita Saffioti:That program continues just like the Regional Road Safety Program. Over 10,000 kilometres of regional roads in WA have been upgraded because the opposition left them in a shambles after eight and a half years. We have had so much catch-up to do. We are supporting local governments in widening its roads as part of our regional road program grants to local governments. That is on top of a record increase in funding to WALGA and all local governments for regional roads. Across all measures, we are spending a record amount. We are going through a process of buying back the freight network that you sold off.Several members interjected.The Speaker:Members! Minister!Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Mid-West! Minister, if could complete your comments, please.Ms Rita Saffioti:The National Party is out there trying to set a price, trying to impact the value-for-money negotiations. Not only did the National Party sell it off, I think, for about $385 million, it is now saying we should buy it back for $5 billion. It is a 49-year lease. It has gone 25 years. I think the National Party sold it for $385 million, and now it is saying it is worth $5 billion. The National Party is trying to jeopardise negotiations because of some petty, pathetic political stunt. That is what the National Party is doing. The Liberal Party tickled its tummy to sell that off.Point of orderMr Liam Staltari:Already this week! The minister should direct her comments through the Chair.The Speaker:Yes, if the minister could conclude her comments, please.Questions without notice resumedMs Rita Saffioti:The Nationals sold the regional rail freight network. They were bought off on this couple of hundred million dollars from the Liberal Party for some regional roads. As a result, they impacted regional Western Australia, regional jobs and regional roads for decades. Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network