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

albeit still a swing—albeit, Member for Grayndler, still a swing for the Labor Party; I accept that. There was a change of government. But, if the Labor Party were really going to pretend that the people in the southern suburbs were against the Roe 8 and Roe 9 project, you would assume that there would be a greater than average swing to the Labor Party in those suburbs, and there was not. I am serious, Member for Grayndler.

But I do accept the great work that the federal Commonwealth government and the state government did in renegotiating a whole range of other infrastructure projects in relation to Western Australia, and a big win for my electorate is that the Roe Highway will be extended. It will be extended across the Kwinana Freeway to provide access to the Fiona Stanley and the Murdoch Activity Centre.

That extension of the Roe Highway is important, but the southern Perth community and WA need jobs now. My question to the minister is: what is stopping the Roe 8 and Roe 9 projects from commencing? Is there funding available in the budget? I understand there is a contingent liability, and I would like the minister to explain on what basis the funding would be made available. I understand from the Treasurer that, if the state government made a decision to proceed with this project, the federal government would allow that money to become available, supporting jobs, infrastructure and, more importantly, the people of Western Australia with the direct access they need east and west across our important city.

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