❓ Mr. Love questions the Minister for Transport about funding priorities for Great Northern Highway upgrades, particularly concerning safety and freight. The Minister defends the government's record investment in regional road infrastructure, highlighting increased funding to local governments.
⏳ Awaiting AnswerQoN 297Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Great Northern Highway—Upgrade297.Mr Shane Loveto
theMinister for Transport:I refer to the
minister's disappointment, expressed on ABC news last night, about Western
Australia receiving a low share of the federal government's road funding and to
the ongoing safety concerns about Great Northern Highway, including now with triple
road trains moving through Bindoon town centre and the deteriorating condition
of the highway, especially between Pithara and Wubin. Given the clear freight,
safety and regional access issues, why has the minister failed to secure
priority funding for critical upgrades to Great Northern Highway, including the
Bindoon bypass?Ms Rita Saffioti replied:I thank the member
for that question. We are spending a record amount here in regional Western
Australia—$3.6 billion alone on road infrastructure over the next four
years.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Member, you have asked the question.
Please listen to the response.Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member!Ms Rita Saffioti:We are spending a record amount,
whether through our own investment program, where we are spending $3.6 billion
on road infrastructure alone, or through the Western Australian Local
Government Association agreement. I just want to announce that last year, $172 million
went to local governments through the WALGA state agreement. This budget year,
it is $287 million—that is, from $172 million to $287 million. Just
to give members an insight, the previous government—Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, please stop your
interjecting. You have asked the question.Ms Rita Saffioti:The previous government, just to
show members how poor it was in servicing regional Western Australia when it
came to transport infrastructure, in 2013–14, gave $172 million to local
governments and, in 2016–17, it gave $172 million to local governments—no
increase. In this budget year, we will be distributing $287 million in
funds to local governments. As I said, in regional—Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, I call you to order
for the first time. I have asked you to stop interjecting. You have already
asked the question. If you have something else you want to ask, wait for your
supplementary.Ms Rita Saffioti:As I said, when it comes to regional
road infrastructure, $3.6 billion has been allocated over the next four
years. When it comes to the regional road safety program, it is $1 billion,
which is the rollout of regional safety.Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, if you keep
interjecting, you will not get your supplementary question.Ms Rita Saffioti:A billion dollars has gone into
regional road safety over the past five years for over 10,000 kilometres of the
Main Roads network. We have also introduced and funded a program specifically
for local government regional road safety.Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member
for Mid-West, I call you to order for the second time. You are not going to get
your supplementary. Please stop interjecting.Ms Rita Saffioti:We continue to invest all across the
whole state. Do you know what—Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt, I call you
to order for the first time. No need to carry it on.Ms Rita Saffioti:We have $24.7 million for the Wheatbelt
Secondary Freight Network for 2026–27 as well. This is a party that is saying
we are spending too much. National Party members come in here saying we are
spending too much, and now they are saying we should be spending more. So,
leader, what is it? Are we spending too much?Mr Shane Love:It is about your priorities,
that is what it's about.Ms Rita Saffioti:So are we spending too much?Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Minister for Transport, members!Ms Rita Saffioti:They do not know where they are and
they—Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Mark Folkard:One half of them wants to
spend, the other half wants to cut!The Speaker:Member for Mindarie!Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Ms Rita Saffioti:Thank you, member for Mindarie. That
is a very good point that you make.In relation to
regional roads, again, when the National Party was in government with the
Liberal Party, the Liberal Party used to tickle its tummy every day for eight
and a half years. What did it do in regional roads? It went backwards. It had
no programs and, in fact, the then leader said, "We're not going to use
regional Royalties for Regions for roads." It purposely refused to invest
in roads. On another point, if it had not sold off the freight network, we
would not have to be—Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, please stop
interjecting. Minister for Transport, if you could start to conclude your
comments, please.Ms Rita Saffioti:If you had not sold the regional
freight network, of course that money could go around even further, because we would
not be having to fix all the roads because of the wear and tear because there
is more freight on roads than there should be. We have the biggest plan and
expenditure outcomes for regional roads in the state's history. We know there
is always more to do, but we have the best record—far better than any of yours
in investing in regional roads.
Great Northern Highway—Upgrade
297.Mr Shane Loveto
theMinister for Transport:
I refer to the
minister's disappointment, expressed on ABC news last night, about Western
Australia receiving a low share of the federal government's road funding and to
the ongoing safety concerns about Great Northern Highway, including now with triple
road trains moving through Bindoon town centre and the deteriorating condition
of the highway, especially between Pithara and Wubin. Given the clear freight,
safety and regional access issues, why has the minister failed to secure
priority funding for critical upgrades to Great Northern Highway, including the
Bindoon bypass?
Ms Rita Saffioti replied:
I thank the member
for that question. We are spending a record amount here in regional Western
Australia—$3.6 billion alone on road infrastructure over the next four
years.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Member, you have asked the question.
Please listen to the response.
Mr Shane Loveinterjected.
The Speaker:Member!
Ms Rita Saffioti:We are spending a record amount,
whether through our own investment program, where we are spending $3.6 billion
on road infrastructure alone, or through the Western Australian Local
Government Association agreement. I just want to announce that last year, $172 million
went to local governments through the WALGA state agreement. This budget year,
it is $287 million—that is, from $172 million to $287 million. Just
to give members an insight, the previous government—
Mr Shane Loveinterjected.
The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, please stop your
interjecting. You have asked the question.
Ms Rita Saffioti:The previous government, just to
show members how poor it was in servicing regional Western Australia when it
came to transport infrastructure, in 2013–14, gave $172 million to local
governments and, in 2016–17, it gave $172 million to local governments—no
increase. In this budget year, we will be distributing $287 million in
funds to local governments. As I said, in regional—
Mr Shane Loveinterjected.
The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, I call you to order
for the first time. I have asked you to stop interjecting. You have already
asked the question. If you have something else you want to ask, wait for your
supplementary.
Ms Rita Saffioti:As I said, when it comes to regional
road infrastructure, $3.6 billion has been allocated over the next four
years. When it comes to the regional road safety program, it is $1 billion,
which is the rollout of regional safety.
Mr Shane Loveinterjected.
The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, if you keep
interjecting, you will not get your supplementary question.
Ms Rita Saffioti:A billion dollars has gone into
regional road safety over the past five years for over 10,000 kilometres of the
Main Roads network. We have also introduced and funded a program specifically
for local government regional road safety.
Mr Shane Loveinterjected.
The Speaker:Member
for Mid-West, I call you to order for the second time. You are not going to get
your supplementary. Please stop interjecting.
Ms Rita Saffioti:We continue to invest all across the
whole state. Do you know what—
Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.
The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt, I call you
to order for the first time. No need to carry it on.
Ms Rita Saffioti:We have $24.7 million for the Wheatbelt
Secondary Freight Network for 2026–27 as well. This is a party that is saying
we are spending too much. National Party members come in here saying we are
spending too much, and now they are saying we should be spending more. So,
leader, what is it? Are we spending too much?
Mr Shane Love:It is about your priorities,
that is what it's about.
Ms Rita Saffioti:So are we spending too much?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Minister for Transport, members!
Ms Rita Saffioti:They do not know where they are and
they—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Mark Folkard:One half of them wants to
spend, the other half wants to cut!
The Speaker:Member for Mindarie!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti:Thank you, member for Mindarie. That
is a very good point that you make.
In relation to
regional roads, again, when the National Party was in government with the
Liberal Party, the Liberal Party used to tickle its tummy every day for eight
and a half years. What did it do in regional roads? It went backwards. It had
no programs and, in fact, the then leader said, "We're not going to use
regional Royalties for Regions for roads." It purposely refused to invest
in roads. On another point, if it had not sold off the freight network, we
would not have to be—
Mr Shane Loveinterjected.
The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, please stop
interjecting. Minister for Transport, if you could start to conclude your
comments, please.
Ms Rita Saffioti:If you had not sold the regional
freight network, of course that money could go around even further, because we would
not be having to fix all the roads because of the wear and tear because there
is more freight on roads than there should be. We have the biggest plan and
expenditure outcomes for regional roads in the state's history. We know there
is always more to do, but we have the best record—far better than any of yours
in investing in regional roads.
theMinister for Transport:I refer to the
minister's disappointment, expressed on ABC news last night, about Western
Australia receiving a low share of the federal government's road funding and to
the ongoing safety concerns about Great Northern Highway, including now with triple
road trains moving through Bindoon town centre and the deteriorating condition
of the highway, especially between Pithara and Wubin. Given the clear freight,
safety and regional access issues, why has the minister failed to secure
priority funding for critical upgrades to Great Northern Highway, including the
Bindoon bypass?Ms Rita Saffioti replied:I thank the member
for that question. We are spending a record amount here in regional Western
Australia—$3.6 billion alone on road infrastructure over the next four
years.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Member, you have asked the question.
Please listen to the response.Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member!Ms Rita Saffioti:We are spending a record amount,
whether through our own investment program, where we are spending $3.6 billion
on road infrastructure alone, or through the Western Australian Local
Government Association agreement. I just want to announce that last year, $172 million
went to local governments through the WALGA state agreement. This budget year,
it is $287 million—that is, from $172 million to $287 million. Just
to give members an insight, the previous government—Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, please stop your
interjecting. You have asked the question.Ms Rita Saffioti:The previous government, just to
show members how poor it was in servicing regional Western Australia when it
came to transport infrastructure, in 2013–14, gave $172 million to local
governments and, in 2016–17, it gave $172 million to local governments—no
increase. In this budget year, we will be distributing $287 million in
funds to local governments. As I said, in regional—Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, I call you to order
for the first time. I have asked you to stop interjecting. You have already
asked the question. If you have something else you want to ask, wait for your
supplementary.Ms Rita Saffioti:As I said, when it comes to regional
road infrastructure, $3.6 billion has been allocated over the next four
years. When it comes to the regional road safety program, it is $1 billion,
which is the rollout of regional safety.Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, if you keep
interjecting, you will not get your supplementary question.Ms Rita Saffioti:A billion dollars has gone into
regional road safety over the past five years for over 10,000 kilometres of the
Main Roads network. We have also introduced and funded a program specifically
for local government regional road safety.Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member
for Mid-West, I call you to order for the second time. You are not going to get
your supplementary. Please stop interjecting.Ms Rita Saffioti:We continue to invest all across the
whole state. Do you know what—Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt, I call you
to order for the first time. No need to carry it on.Ms Rita Saffioti:We have $24.7 million for the Wheatbelt
Secondary Freight Network for 2026–27 as well. This is a party that is saying
we are spending too much. National Party members come in here saying we are
spending too much, and now they are saying we should be spending more. So,
leader, what is it? Are we spending too much?Mr Shane Love:It is about your priorities,
that is what it's about.Ms Rita Saffioti:So are we spending too much?Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Minister for Transport, members!Ms Rita Saffioti:They do not know where they are and
they—Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Mark Folkard:One half of them wants to
spend, the other half wants to cut!The Speaker:Member for Mindarie!Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Ms Rita Saffioti:Thank you, member for Mindarie. That
is a very good point that you make.In relation to
regional roads, again, when the National Party was in government with the
Liberal Party, the Liberal Party used to tickle its tummy every day for eight
and a half years. What did it do in regional roads? It went backwards. It had
no programs and, in fact, the then leader said, "We're not going to use
regional Royalties for Regions for roads." It purposely refused to invest
in roads. On another point, if it had not sold off the freight network, we
would not have to be—Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, please stop
interjecting. Minister for Transport, if you could start to conclude your
comments, please.Ms Rita Saffioti:If you had not sold the regional
freight network, of course that money could go around even further, because we would
not be having to fix all the roads because of the wear and tear because there
is more freight on roads than there should be. We have the biggest plan and
expenditure outcomes for regional roads in the state's history. We know there
is always more to do, but we have the best record—far better than any of yours
in investing in regional roads.
Great Northern Highway—Upgrade
297.Mr Shane Loveto
theMinister for Transport:
I refer to the
minister's disappointment, expressed on ABC news last night, about Western
Australia receiving a low share of the federal government's road funding and to
the ongoing safety concerns about Great Northern Highway, including now with triple
road trains moving through Bindoon town centre and the deteriorating condition
of the highway, especially between Pithara and Wubin. Given the clear freight,
safety and regional access issues, why has the minister failed to secure
priority funding for critical upgrades to Great Northern Highway, including the
Bindoon bypass?
Ms Rita Saffioti replied:
I thank the member
for that question. We are spending a record amount here in regional Western
Australia—$3.6 billion alone on road infrastructure over the next four
years.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Member, you have asked the question.
Please listen to the response.
Mr Shane Loveinterjected.
The Speaker:Member!
Ms Rita Saffioti:We are spending a record amount,
whether through our own investment program, where we are spending $3.6 billion
on road infrastructure alone, or through the Western Australian Local
Government Association agreement. I just want to announce that last year, $172 million
went to local governments through the WALGA state agreement. This budget year,
it is $287 million—that is, from $172 million to $287 million. Just
to give members an insight, the previous government—
Mr Shane Loveinterjected.
The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, please stop your
interjecting. You have asked the question.
Ms Rita Saffioti:The previous government, just to
show members how poor it was in servicing regional Western Australia when it
came to transport infrastructure, in 2013–14, gave $172 million to local
governments and, in 2016–17, it gave $172 million to local governments—no
increase. In this budget year, we will be distributing $287 million in
funds to local governments. As I said, in regional—
Mr Shane Loveinterjected.
The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, I call you to order
for the first time. I have asked you to stop interjecting. You have already
asked the question. If you have something else you want to ask, wait for your
supplementary.
Ms Rita Saffioti:As I said, when it comes to regional
road infrastructure, $3.6 billion has been allocated over the next four
years. When it comes to the regional road safety program, it is $1 billion,
which is the rollout of regional safety.
Mr Shane Loveinterjected.
The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, if you keep
interjecting, you will not get your supplementary question.
Ms Rita Saffioti:A billion dollars has gone into
regional road safety over the past five years for over 10,000 kilometres of the
Main Roads network. We have also introduced and funded a program specifically
for local government regional road safety.
Mr Shane Loveinterjected.
The Speaker:Member
for Mid-West, I call you to order for the second time. You are not going to get
your supplementary. Please stop interjecting.
Ms Rita Saffioti:We continue to invest all across the
whole state. Do you know what—
Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.
The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt, I call you
to order for the first time. No need to carry it on.
Ms Rita Saffioti:We have $24.7 million for the Wheatbelt
Secondary Freight Network for 2026–27 as well. This is a party that is saying
we are spending too much. National Party members come in here saying we are
spending too much, and now they are saying we should be spending more. So,
leader, what is it? Are we spending too much?
Mr Shane Love:It is about your priorities,
that is what it's about.
Ms Rita Saffioti:So are we spending too much?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Minister for Transport, members!
Ms Rita Saffioti:They do not know where they are and
they—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Mark Folkard:One half of them wants to
spend, the other half wants to cut!
The Speaker:Member for Mindarie!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti:Thank you, member for Mindarie. That
is a very good point that you make.
In relation to
regional roads, again, when the National Party was in government with the
Liberal Party, the Liberal Party used to tickle its tummy every day for eight
and a half years. What did it do in regional roads? It went backwards. It had
no programs and, in fact, the then leader said, "We're not going to use
regional Royalties for Regions for roads." It purposely refused to invest
in roads. On another point, if it had not sold off the freight network, we
would not have to be—
Mr Shane Loveinterjected.
The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, please stop
interjecting. Minister for Transport, if you could start to conclude your
comments, please.
Ms Rita Saffioti:If you had not sold the regional
freight network, of course that money could go around even further, because we would
not be having to fix all the roads because of the wear and tear because there
is more freight on roads than there should be. We have the biggest plan and
expenditure outcomes for regional roads in the state's history. We know there
is always more to do, but we have the best record—far better than any of yours
in investing in regional roads.
AnswerView source ↗
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This question is awaiting a response from the Minister.
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