Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the minister update the House on what work is underway in Western Australia to create jobs and boost productivity by delivering infrastructure for the future?

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for her question. It was a pleasure to be with her in her electorate for the opening of the Karratha Airport upgrade recently—a terrific infrastructure project undertaken by the local community to improve their connection with the rest of the country. That is one of many substantial infrastructure projects being undertaken in Western Australia at the present time. The Commonwealth is contributing substantially to that under our $50 billion infrastructure program. Indeed, we will be spending around $800 million in Western Australia this year alone, and we have about another $5½ billion commitment to Western Australia for infrastructure programs under the current agreements.

We are providing $925 million for the Perth Freight Link and $895 million for Northlink Western Australia. Then of course there is $675 million available also to complete the work on the Gateway Western Australia project.

We have added a further $500 million, almost, to address the specific circumstances of Western Australia's share of the GST revenue, and that will be money that can be invested in infrastructure projects in that state, and $116 million for the duplication—

Ms MacTiernan interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Perth will cease interjecting.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

of the Armadale Road was announced last month. In the member's own electorate, the 75-kilometre upgrade of the Great Northern Highway between Muchea and Wubin is currently underway, and that will make a really big difference to the people travelling those vast distances in Western Australia. We have another $385 million project for upgrading work in that area. There is $218 million for the North-West Coast Highway, and those sorts of projects will make a real difference.

Ms MacTiernan interjecting—

I did hear the shadow minister interject with some suggestion that these were Labor projects, and I know we have heard this claim before. But there is a double problem with this particular claim, because these were projects that Labor intended to fund from the proceeds of the mining tax. Indeed, we have the word of the former Treasurer—when asked about what would happen if the mining tax could not raise enough money for these infrastructure projects, he said, 'Well, if we don't have the revenue from the tax, then we can't make the investment.'

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler will not be provoked.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So under Labor these projects would not have happened because they were dependent upon a mining tax that did not raise any money. We are getting on with the job. We are building the roads and we are funding them, on budget, in the proper way.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.