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

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 712 standing in my name for today, relating to the WestConnex motorway project.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) an independent report commissioned by the City of Sydney analysing the traffic impact of the WestConnex project found that congestion on Parramatta Road would increase following the motorway's construction, and

(ii) the report provides further evidence that investment in public transport is the best way to solve Sydney's traffic and congestion bottlenecks, and

(iii) that the full business case for the WestConnex project has not been released and that it is environmentally and fiscally irresponsible to engage in contracts without adequate mechanisms for transparency and accountability; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to withdraw its financial support for the WestConnex project.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government is fully committed to WestConnex. This is a vital infrastructure project that will cut traffic congestion and boost productivity in the nation's largest city. The completed WestConnex is expected to remove 4,600 trucks and 20,000 cars per day from Parramatta Road between Concord and Camperdown. The New South Wales government is investing in a number of public transport projects at the same time, supported by the federal government's Asset Recycling Initiative. Extensive information on the project and its benefits are widely accessible to the public, including the summary business case, two environmental impact statements, and Infrastructure Australia's assessment of the project. The assessment process for each section of WestConnex can be viewed on the web site of the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment. Any concerns relating to potential committee impacts can continue to be expressed through the EIS process. By opposing WestConnex the Greens are seeking to deny commuters significant travel time savings, sentencing commuters to more time in the car and less time with their families.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Labor is not supporting this motion. We were not consulted on the words, the motion is inaccurate and it is simplistic. Infrastructure decisions need to be separated from the political cycle. Labor has major concerns over the Liberals' lack of disclosure and proper consultation with the community, and has long called for the public release of all the WestConnex business case. The proposed routes do not address the number one issue raised by Infrastructure NSW—namely, the rapidly growing freight tasked to and from Port Botany, which the motion ignores. Labor believes the federal government should fund public transport projects, where they are the best solution to congestion, based on expert advice and value for money.

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

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Rhiannon, as amended, be agreed to.