Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Indeed I have. Of course, this is about the priorities of this government and its expenditure and the things that it is committing to as part of its budget and its program. What we're seeing, unfortunately, is an unwillingness to be upfront with the Australian people about what the government's priorities are in terms of key infrastructure projects that are occurring around the state.

So I would urge the government to just get on with it. You said you commissioned a 90-day review. It is well past that 90 days. Key projects have been put on ice. All of them are subject to cancellation. This is a project that must not be cancelled, and it ought not to be delayed any further. It should be done. It should be completed as part of the overall roadworks program in that area. It would make sense. The feedback I've had from people to the campaign that I've been running on this is that it must go ahead but it should happen in conjunction with the roadworks program that's already ongoing in the area, because the last thing that locals want, of course, is protracted roadworks. Sadly, we're seeing under the state Labor government in Western Australia that it is taking an extraordinarily long time to deliver projects. They don't deliver them on budget, and they certainly don't deliver them on time. The impact, of course, is on the budget, but it's also on people and their time. Any time that people are spending on the road, in their commute to and from work, school, the shops or wherever they have to go, is time that they are not with their families. They are not able to enjoy that time restfully being at home with their families. Of course, it's a serious issue. I really do call on the government to hurry up and announce what you intend to do with this program. I have serious doubts about it now, given that it's been well over 90 days and given that this government is not progressing with this and not coming forward with any concrete answer about what it is going to do. It's disappointing for the local residents.

It's an important project that must go ahead, as I said, for safety. It will also drive efficiency in and out of that area, particularly into the Canning Vale area, where there are significant, major businesses operating. There's a defence precinct in that area that will play a key role in AUKUS and other programs essential for our nation's future. This particular project not going ahead in a timely way will seriously impact the delivery of those programs. I question the government's priorities when it comes to their management of budget and expenditure, because it's clear that there will be a productivity dividend if this project is delivered. It will drive efficiency through our economy, and further delay of these projects means you will add additional cost. If it is done at the same time as the other major roadworks occurring in the area, that will bring financial and, as I said, timing efficiencies for road users that go through the area. The government's priorities seem to be askew, and I would urge the government to get on and move ahead with these important projects.