David Coleman (Banks, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the minister update the House on the status of WestConnex in Sydney? What benefits will this vital infrastructure project delivered to people in my community?

Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you to the member of Banks for such an important question. It is a project which will help transform his electorate and those of many of the members from Sydney and Western Sydney in this place. Last week there were two major announcements in respect of the WestConnex project in Sydney. There was the WestConnex stage 2—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Don't worry, I am coming to you, son.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler will desist.

Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer was out with the geotechnical drilling equipment in Sydney last Tuesday.

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

He focused on getting on with delivering WestConnex stage 2, a project we are delivering because of the budget announcement of the $2 billion concessional loan we are giving to the New South Wales government and the WestConnex authority.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Gorton may leave under 94(a).

Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last Friday, the Treasurer was with the member for Reid with WestConnex stage 1, to which we are contributing $1½ billion dollars with the geotechnical work. It is a project that the coalition is committed to delivering, and we are getting on with it as quickly as possible to ensure that we have got this city-building infrastructure.

It will ensure that between Parramatta Road and Sydney airport—

Mr Thistlethwaite interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Kingsford Smith is warned.

Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

there are reductions in traffic times of 40 minutes, halving bus travel times between inner west and the city, bypassing 52 sets of traffic lights, removing 3,000 trucks a day from Parramatta Road and creating some 10,000 jobs during construction. This is in addition to the $3½ billion package of roads that we have announced in respect of the Western Sydney airport about which we have got on and made a decision about after 40 years. I appreciate the fact that the member for Grayndler congratulated us on that today and supported the project. The member for Chifley remains quiet. It is a $3½ billion project that we are committed to, and we are committed to getting on with the second Sydney Airport as quickly as possible.

There was today a new announcement from the Leader of the Opposition, and we congratulate the member for Grayndler on his new position. Congratulations! It is not the job you want from the Leader of the Opposition, but it is a new job nonetheless. He made a couple of announcements today. He made one announcement which the Guardian has talked about. The Guardian, on its website, has an opinion editorial from the shadow minister, the member for Grayndler, entitled 'Scooters: the way forward for Australia's traffic congestion problem'. Scooters! Member for Banks, what would you like: WestConnex or scooters? WestConnex—funny that!

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The assistant to the minister was asked about WestConnex. He could answer by saying where it will come up in the city and how it will get to the port. That is what—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order.

Government members interjecting—

Mr Ciobo interjecting—

There will be silence on my right! That includes the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer. The assistant minister—not the 'assistant to the minister'—has the call.

Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In fact, on TheGuardian website one of its contributors says that, 'This, in my opinion, is the dumbest idea I have ever heard from an Australian politician.' That is unusual, of course—I would thought that bringing Kevin Rudd back to the prime ministership was! Finally, the other announcement he made was on bringing back the high-speed rail, but we will come back to that at some other time.