Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I direct my question to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Senator Cash. How does the government justify contributing $500 million to the WestConnex motorway project in Sydney and another $3 billion in grants and loans for the project when Infrastructure Australia's assessment of the project found major weaknesses in the business plan, including a failure to account for the induced trips motorists would have to make and no allowance made for cost blow-outs?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Rhiannon for the question. I am sure that I have already answered the question, but I will commence my answer by yet again asking myself, 'Why do the Greens hate infrastructure so much?' It is a little bit like when the senator from Victoria, Senator Rice, asked me a question in relation to the East West Link. Why do you hate projects which ensure that the people of the states in which the projects are being built get jobs? This is a good project.

In terms of the Infrastructure Australia assessment: on 23 February 2015, Infrastructure Australia released their assessment of WestConnex, judging it as 'threshold', which indicates that the project has strong strategic and economic merit. Senator Rhiannon, which part of 'strong strategic and economic merit' do you not understand?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The whole lot!

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The whole lot, exactly, although it is a little unfortunate. That is exactly right!

I again, for the benefit of those from New South Wales, outline the benefits of WestConnex. It will provide 33 kilometres of continuous traffic-light-free motorway to link western and south-western Sydney with the CBD, Kingsford Smith airport and the port precinct. That is a good thing. WestConnex will remove well-known bottlenecks in the M4 and M5 corridor and improve traffic flows, colleagues, by bypassing up to 52 sets of traffic lights. The benefits of the WestConnex project do not stop there. It will take 3,000 trucks per day off Parramatta Road. Again, I ask: what do the Greens have against infrastructure projects that create jobs, boost productivity—(Time expired)

Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Could the minister—

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! On my right. I need to hear the question.

Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Could the minister answer this question rather than go into her bombastic abuse mode. Considering Infrastructure Australia's assessment shows that the WestConnex business case wrongly estimated project costs because they did not follow the guidelines, resulting in a potential cost blow-out of hundreds of millions of dollars, does the minister now accept that it would be a better use of money to invest in public transport to reduce traffic on Sydney roads and fix congestion in the long term? (Time expired)

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I do not agree with the proposition that Senator Rhiannon has put. But as my colleague, Senator Abetz, has said: the Soviet Union was very good at building certain types of infrastructure.

But could I just go back to the WestConnex project because all jokes—being the Greens—aside, I have to say: this is a very serious project and it will deliver serious economic benefits to the people of New South Wales. That is what those on this side of the chamber want: we want to ensure that the people of New South Wales have jobs. That is what this project will provide. We want to ease congestion on the roads. That is what this project will provide. I note, however, that Senator Rhiannon, being the Greens transport spokesperson, wants to close the Kingsford Smith airport but she does not want an airport at Badgerys Creek. At the same time—(Time expired)

Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Minister, could you answer the question this time rather than being so inaccurate and being a Cold War warrior. In 2014, the minister promised to enshrine—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Rhiannon, start again. We will start the clock again.

Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister. In 2014 the minister promised to enshrine certainty, transparency, focus and a national purpose in infrastructure planning, development and delivery. But yesterday he refused to produce key documents on the WestConnex project because he deemed it not in the public interest. Minister, given that it is the public that is funding this project, why is releasing this information not in the public interest? In whose interest is it to keep the business case and traffic modelling secret—your developer mates?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have to say that, given the mention of communism, the Cold War, the old Soviet Union and being—what was it?—a warrior for communism, I almost wish that I could defer to Senator Mason to answer this question. I wish I could defer to Senator Mason on his final question time to answer the question because I am sure, Senator Mason, you would have a lot to say in relation to the proposition that Senator Rhiannon has put forward.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Keep to the question, Minister.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Quite seriously—

Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order. A question was asked about releasing the business case. If it is in the public interest to release that business case, please release it.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order, Senator Milne. I remind the minister that she has 24 seconds in which to answer the question that was asked.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to the order for the production of documents and the response that I provided on behalf of Minister Truss yesterday, it clearly sets out in the order why the minister responsible believed it is not in the public interest to disclose the documents. Senator Rhiannon, when it comes to things like commercial confidentiality et cetera—(Time expired)