Nola Marino (Forrest, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Urban Infrastructure. Will the minister update the House on the rollout of the government's $50 billion infrastructure investment plan? How is this record investment delivering jobs for hardworking Australians and improving productivity across the country, especially in my home state of Western Australia?

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Urban Infrastructure) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Forrest for this question. She is a very strong advocate for improving infrastructure to deliver economic benefits and employment. She is a strong supporter of projects such as: the Swan Valley bypass of $648 million of Commonwealth government money; the Tonkin grade separation, two parts of the NorthLink project, of $185 million of Commonwealth government money; and the projects that were announced in the 2016 campaign, including the Ocean Reef Road overpass of $20 million, the Manning Road on-ramp of $20 million and the national element of the Outback Way of $100 million.

She is also a strong supporter of the Perth Freight Link of $1.186 billion of Commonwealth money—a project for a dedicated and efficient link to the Fremantle port. It will take heavy traffic off suburban streets in southwestern Perth. It will improve safety. It will be a fast, efficient and reliable connection for freight traffic and car traffic. This project will deliver 2,400 jobs and thousands of indirect jobs. What is the Labor Party—

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. In order to be relevant, he has to say how the freight will get the three kilometres between where the road stops and the port.

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

The member for Grayndler will resume his seat. The minister has the call.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Urban Infrastructure) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is Labor's plan for the Perth Freight Link? Their plan is to cancel it. Their plan is to turn their backs on 2,400 jobs. And why is that? They are more interested in getting the approval of the latte sippers in Carlton, Fitzroy, Marrickville and Fremantle than they are concerned about 2,400 jobs for Australians. They have some vapourware proposal to replace it which has not even yet been approved by Infrastructure Australia. We have a plan for Western Australia and we have a plan for the nation, with infrastructure all around the country—a $50 billion infrastructure program which is being rolled out steadily. There is the Northern Connector in Adelaide, the Darlington project in Adelaide, the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing, the $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan—a new M12 to connect from the new Western Sydney Airport, opening in 2026, to the M7 and to the Sydney Motorway network.

The Turnbull government is getting on with delivering infrastructure all around the country because it delivers economic benefit and jobs. We took the decision to proceed with Western Sydney Airport. We are proceeding with the approvals on that. We have construction already underway on major road projects to connect to that, like the Northern Road. We are getting on with a $50 billion infrastructure program to deliver jobs and to deliver economic growth. (Time expired)

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

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