Ellie Whiteaker (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Acting Deputy President Ghosh, you will understand better than almost anyone in this chamber that Western Australia is the economic powerhouse of our nation, driving growth, innovation and jobs. Under the Albanese Labor government, working hand-in-hand with the Cook Labor government, we are building Western Australia's future. Our government is investing $9.7 billion into transport infrastructure across our great state, investing in the infrastructure that keeps WA moving. This includes widening the Kwinana Freeway, which is very important to many of my neighbours in Perth's southern suburbs. We are improving safety and easing congestion for more than 100,000 vehicles every single day. It's backed by $353 million commitment to get the job done. That is on top of our commitment to support the planning of the Westport project, the anchor of WA's future trade growth, with a new container port in Kwinana setting up our state for the next century.

We're also strengthening WA's role as a gateway to the Indo-Pacific, granting first-port-of-entry status to Wyndham, Ashburton and Dampier. We are opening the north to new trade opportunities. That means goods can land closer to where they are needed, cutting costs, boosting productivity, supporting clean energy and green fuel industries across the Pilbara, the Kimberley and the entire nation. Through METRONET, we've delivered the biggest transformation of public transport in our state's history, connecting our outer suburbs and cutting travel time. We're securing our national defence and creating skilled work at home through our naval ship-building precinct in Henderson, supporting the local ship-building workforce and strengthening—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Whiteaker. The time for statements has expired.