Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that the Perth Freight Link will not actually take freight to the port but instead stop three kilometres short of it? Why is this discredited project a priority for the Prime Minister, instead of expanding public transport in Perth through the METRONET?

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

The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport has the call.

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, because this is a government—the Turnbull-Joyce government—which is getting on with the job of delivering right around Australia. We have a $50 billion infrastructure investment program right around Australia: in Perth, in Melbourne, in Sydney, in Brisbane and right throughout regional Australia through our regional highway programs, and in our small rural and remote towns as well. It is a $50 billion infrastructure investment program which is changing lives and saving lives.

It changes lives, a project like Roe 8, the Perth Freight Link project. It will deliver freight in an efficient way to the port. It will improve safety for the community of Perth and the broader Western Australian community in terms of getting a number of heavy vehicles, which are a great cause of concern for the local community, off the suburban streets.

The Australian government has committed in the order of $1.2 billion to the Perth Freight Link project. We are getting on with the job right throughout Australia: in Western Australia, in Victoria, in New South Wales, in Queensland—

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

The minister will resume his seat. The member for Grayndler on a point of order.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was a very specific question: does anyone in the government know that this Perth Freight Link does not go to the port?

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

The member for Grayndler will resume his seat.

Mr Dutton interjecting—

Mr Pyne interjecting—

The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection will not give me advice. The Leader of the House will cease interjecting. The minister was asked a very specific question. Whilst he is on the topic of the question, it was—

Dr Leigh interjecting—

The member for Fenner is preventing me ruling on a point of order raised by—

Mr Keenan interjecting—

Ms Collins interjecting—

The Minister for Justice and the member for Franklin can both go and continue their conversation outside the chamber. They can leave under 94(a).

The members for Franklin and Stirling then left the chamber.

I presume those on my left want me to rule on the point of order; otherwise I am happy not to and I will simply go back to the minister. It was a very specific question. The minister is on the topic of the question but, in the remaining time, he needs to address himself to one of the two questions that were asked.

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As those opposite would understand, the Perth Freight Link project will deliver significant travel time savings for the community in Western Australia. The commencement of work on-site on Roe 8 was in December 2016. We remain committed to that project. We have committed $1.2 billion to that project.

It is interesting having the member for Grayndler as my shadow, because I know the member for Grayndler is not interested in my job. We know what job he is interested in. I simply say to the member for Grayndler: this is a government which is getting on with the job of delivering a $50 billion infrastructure investment program right throughout Australia, including the $1.2 billion allocated to the Perth Freight Link.