Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker—not to be mistaken for the member for Lilley!

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

I do not know what the confusion is: we go from side to side—we have been doing it for 116 years!

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Counting to two can be difficult sometimes! My question is to the Minister for Urban Infrastructure. Will the minister update the House on the government's investment in rail, including the $10 billion National Rail Program announced in the budget? How will this transformational investment improve liveability and productivity in our cities and regions? I am sure that the member for Grayndler would love to hear the answer.

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

I do thank the member for Swan for this question. He is a very strong advocate for his electorate and a very strong advocate for rail and public transport. I have enjoyed visiting with him the Perth to Forrestfield Airport project, which of course benefits from $490 million of Turnbull government funding. And of course we have seen very significant funding for rail projects in the 2017 budget.

There was $792 million for additional projects in Perth, including the Thornlie to Cockburn Line and the extension to Yanchep. There was $500 million committed for Victorian regional rail and of course there was $30 million committed for a business case for a rail line from Melbourne city to Tullamarine airport. There is rail from the city to the airport in Sydney, there is rail from the airport to the city in Brisbane and there is rail from the airport to the city under construction in Perth; it is time we had rail from the airport to the city in Melbourne, and the Turnbull government is taking the lead.

This government has a clear and structured approach to rail. We have committed $10 billion to the National Rail Program, and this will support major rail projects around the country. We have a structured program, with urban rail plans being developed, working with the state governments so that we have a systematic approach to delivering rail and to supporting city-shaping rail projects.

Of course, by contrast we have the approach from Labor. We saw the shadow minister in April, announcing yet again and reprising the failed announcement of the New South Wales election campaign in 2015, when he said, mysteriously, that $400 million was apparently going to be sufficient for a rail line to Western Sydney Airport. What did the New South Wales transport minister say about that in 2015? She made the point that it was more likely to be $4 billion if you looked at an extrapolation from the most recently completed South West Rail Link.

It is a reminder of Labor's rank incompetence when it comes to delivering rail in New South Wales. Let's just remember the record. With the Parramatta to Chatswood Rail Link they promised, they delivered half of it. The Bondi Beach rail line was promised in 1988—delivered: zero. The high-speed rail link to Newcastle promised by Carl Scully: what was delivered? Zero. The Hurstville to Strathfield rail link: what did Labor deliver? Zero. The high-speed rail from Sutherland to Wollongong: what did Labor deliver in New South Wales? Zero. The North West Rail Link: what did Labor deliver? Zero. The South West Rail Link: what did Labor deliver? Zero. We had Carl Scully promise the CBD new harbour crossing. What did Labor deliver? Zero. John Watkins in 2008: what did Labor deliver? Zero.

Government members: Zero!

They had plans for the west metro. What did Labor deliver? Zero. The Western Express: what did Labor deliver? Zero.

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

The Minister for Urban Infrastructure will resume his seat. Members on my right!

Mr Albanese interjecting—

The member for Grayndler will resume his seat. The minister's time has concluded.