House debates

Wednesday, 9 May 2018

Statements by Members

Budget

1:37 pm

Photo of Ben MortonBen Morton (Tangney, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

What fantastic news there is in the budget, not just for the people of Tangney but, importantly, for the people of the federal electorate of Fremantle. There it is in statement 9 on page 33 of Budget Paper No. 1:

The Australian Government remains committed to the construction of the Roe 8 and 9 extensions to complete the Perth Freight Link. … the Australian Government will provide $1.2 billion to the first WA Government willing to build the Perth Freight Link by constructing the Roe 8 and 9 extensions …

But why is it so important? It's so important because: it will bypass 15 sets of traffic lights; 7,000 trucks and 74,000 cars will be taken off local roads each and every day; there will be better freeway access; and it will even save 450,000 tonnes of CO2. But Labor and Mark McGowan in WA are refusing to take that $1.2 billion to get this vital project done. They have the ability to access those funds, and the feedback in my office from the people of Tangney and the people of Fremantle is that they want that road built. I've campaigned against the noisy protesters. I know the community wants that road built. Labor must work with the federal government to access the $1.2 billion that's there, in black and white, to get this project done.

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