Senate debates

Wednesday, 26 March 2014

Questions without Notice

Western Australia: Infrastructure

2:22 pm

Photo of Alan EgglestonAlan Eggleston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Senator Johnston. Can the minister inform the Senate how the government is building the infrastructure Western Australia needs to bolster the state's productivity and its economic and employment growth into the future?

Photo of David JohnstonDavid Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question and for his longstanding interest and commitment to the state of Western Australia. The infrastructure issues in Western Australia will soon be very clear to this chamber—that is, the coalition is committed to delivering world-class infrastructure to Western Australia without a mining tax.

Photo of Glenn SterleGlenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Funded by the previous Labor government.

Opposition senators interjecting

Photo of David JohnstonDavid Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

I hear some interjections across the chamber.

Photo of John HoggJohn Hogg (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! Interjections are disorderly. You should ignore the interjections and address your comments to the chair.

Photo of David JohnstonDavid Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Pratt, of course, adores and loves the mining tax—a senator from Western Australia. Senator Lines is enamoured with the mining tax.

Photo of Glenn SterleGlenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Don't leave me out of it! There should be more—

Photo of David JohnstonDavid Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Sterle is enamoured with the mining tax and the carbon tax. Labor continually claim that projects, including the—

Photo of Mathias CormannMathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order: I just want to make sure that Hansard has recorded that Senator Sterle said there should be more mining tax, not less.

Honourable senators interjecting

Photo of John HoggJohn Hogg (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! There is no point of order. On my left and my right, Senator Johnston is entitled to be heard in silence.

Photo of David JohnstonDavid Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

The Labor Party, in government, continually claimed that the Gateway project, a billion dollar project; the Northern Highway project, $307 million, Muchea to Wubin, stage 2; the North West Coastal Highway, $150 million; and the Swan Valley Bypass, $480 million, would be fully funded. Of course, they tied all of those programs to the mining tax. What a poisoned chalice for the people of Western Australia—a tax which, in fact, raised no money. Mr President, a coalition government will deliver the Perth Airport Gateway project for the people of Hasluck and greater Perth. It will also deliver the Greater Northern Highway, stage 2; the North West Coastal Highway; the Swan Valley Bypass; and a whole host of other black-spot programs. But the important thing is that the $3.8 billion funding for those programs comes without a mining tax— (Time expired)

2:25 pm

Photo of Alan EgglestonAlan Eggleston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a supplementary question. How will the repeal of the carbon tax help build infrastructure and promote regional development and therefore more jobs in Western Australia?

Photo of David JohnstonDavid Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

This tax, if not removed, continues to be a major drag, a major source of damage, to the Western Australian economy. Indeed, Western Australian taxpayers paid $627 million last year in carbon taxes. Under Labor's plan, on-road transport was going to be hit with a 6c a litre carbon tax. Of course, Senator Sterle loves that, as a former truck driver.

Photo of Glenn SterleGlenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I missed that!

Photo of David JohnstonDavid Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

He loves to see remote towns, remote communities in Western Australia—literally thousands of kilometres from ports and from fuel infrastructure—paying massive amounts of carbon tax. The Australian Trucking Association estimated that a carbon tax on the trucking sector will cost $510 million in 2014-15 alone.

Photo of Glenn SterleGlenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

You're stumping up for them as well, are you?

Photo of David JohnstonDavid Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Sterle loves to hear these numbers. He is completely anti-Western Australia. (Time expired)

2:26 pm

Photo of Alan EgglestonAlan Eggleston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. Will the minister update the Senate on recent developments of the Gateway WA project and tell the Senate what effect the repeal of the mining tax would have on this important infrastructure project as well as other projects around Western Australia?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting

Photo of John HoggJohn Hogg (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! No, Senator Johnston, I will not give you the call. You are entitled to be heard in silence. When there is silence.

2:27 pm

Photo of David JohnstonDavid Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question. In Perth, the $1 billion Gateway project will provide a critical link for Perth's freight and logistics industries—may I say, without a mining tax. This vital infrastructure will improve access to the airport, reduce congestion and cut travel time for commuters, whilst also making it easier for people-access. We know that freight and container traffic in the area will double by 2030, so we need to act now to ensure Perth has the infrastructure to cope with this increase in demand. It will also be essential for getting agricultural, mining and other resources to the port more efficiently. The coalition is strengthening Australia's economy by investing $3.8 billion into this critical piece of transport infrastructure, all without the pain and suffering and the purely Western Australian tax on mining. (Time expired)