Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) | Hansard source

No, I'll restate it! If those opposite were genuinely concerned about growing the economy and investing in game-changing infrastructure then they would speak to their colleagues in the WA state Labor government and get them to build the Roe 8 and 9 project. I'm happy to agree that this is the sort of infrastructure that needs to be brought forward. The Morrison government will deliver $1.2 billion for this project to any WA state government which decides on the Roe 8 and 9.

The money is there on the table, as it has been for each and every year since the McGowan WA Labor government came to power. They cancelled the project and they're squandering this funding. The first act of the Labor government was to cancel a multibillion dollar infrastructure project that was supporting jobs right there in Perth. It wasn't just shovel-ready; it was already underway. The Labor Party told those working on this project to go home! Where was the protection of jobs? So we on this side of the chamber will not be lectured to on this topic by those opposite, who cancel projects and destroy jobs. It was a leaf from the Daniel Andrews book of big infrastructure projects that they didn't need to take.

In direct contrast, the Commonwealth government is delivering record investment of over $13.5 billion to fund infrastructure projects in WA. This includes $1.6 billion in the most recent budget and $2.8 billion in last year's budget for major new projects. On roads, we are providing significant contributions to upgrade highways and to address local pinch points across the suburbs of Perth, as well as better connecting regional WA through projects such as NorthLink WA, the Tonkin Highway upgrades, Armadale Road, the Bunbury Outer Ring Road, the Albany Ring Road and the Great Northern Highway.

We've also supported key components which make up one of the largest rail transport projects underway in Australia. That includes the Forrestfield Airport Link, the Thornlie-Cockburn link, the Yanchep Rail Extension, the Morley-Ellenbrook Line, the extension of the Armadale Line to Byford, the Midland train station and the Lakelands train station. We're also making an investment of $207.5 million in the Oak Street-Welshpool Road and Mint Street level-crossing removals. There is $190 million for the Armadale Road bridge and $115 million for the renewal of the Fremantle traffic bridge. There is $51.8 million for the Wanneroo Road and Ocean Reef Road grade separation and $28 million for the Manning Road freeway on-ramp. There is $25 million for a business case to investigate the future road and rail connections for Perth and $10 million for the planning and development of EastLink WA—the orange route.

Under our $4.5 billion Roads of Strategic Importance initiative, an investment of $535 million is being made in WA, including $248 million for the Karratha to Tom Price corridor; $75 million for the Alice Springs to Halls Creek corridor; $70 million for the Newman to Katherine corridor; $70 million to the Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Route network; $50 million for the Port Augusta to Perth corridor; and $22 million for the Pinjarra Heavy Haulage Deviation.

Western Australia also shares in the $330 million that has been allocated to the Outback Way, which I know is something that Senator Smith has been advocating for a long time. Six hundred million dollars is going to the Northern Australia Roads Program and $100 million is going to the Northern Australia Beef Roads Program. WA industry, business and communities are benefiting from this substantial investment, projects which are helping to make our transport better, safer, more efficient and more reliable. These projects are also supporting thousands of full-time jobs and apprenticeships.

In closing, I'd like to thank those opposite, particularly Senator Gallagher, for the opportunity to highlight their hypocrisy on this issue.