Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Sterle, move:

That—

(a) the Senate notes the failure of the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development to comply with the order of the Senate of 10 August 2015, namely for all documents relating to the Infrastructure Australia evaluation of the Perth Freight Link and the business case presented by the Western Australian Government and related documents; and

(b) resolves that the decision to commit funding to the Perth Freight Link project be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 26 November 2015, with particular reference to:

(i) the decision-making process that led to the announcement that the Perth Freight Link would receive Commonwealth funding,

(ii) the information relied upon by state and Commonwealth governments informing the decision to fund this project,

(iii) the importance of transparency of decision-making in relation to infrastructure decisions,

(iv) evaluation of options for managing growth in the Perth freight task, and

(v) any related matters.

managing growth in the Perth freight task, and

(v) any related matters.

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

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-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 government is absolutely committed to the Perth Freight Link and the project will provide the missing link in Perth's urban transport corridor by connecting the main industrial areas with the Fremantle port. It will reduce travel times for heavy vehicles, improve safety along arterial roads and create 2,400 jobs.

A 30-page summary business case was publicly released in December 2014, which details a breakdown of the benefit cost analysis results; the problems the project will resolve; the current challenges facing WA and its freight system; and the scope of the project.

The project is undergoing an extensive and rigorous environmental approval process. Conditional environmental approval for the Roe Highway extension component of the project was granted on 2 July 2015—a reflection of the significant care that has been taken to minimise the project footprint.

The proponents of the Perth Freight Link are ignoring the multiple economic benefits the project will deliver for Western Australia.

Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I cannot help feeling a little bit sorry for Senator Fifield, because it is your job to walk in here and just read the words that they have given you, and then the words come out. I do not know, Senator Fifield, whether you have actually visited Perth since 1955 or so, which was when the Perth Freight Link components were first put on the planning books.

This project is a total disaster, and the Barnett government is in meltdown over it. Transport minister Dean Nalder did not even know that the project was still subject to Commonwealth environmental impact assessment. The scale of incompetence and the potential waste of up to $2½ billion dollars of taxpayers' money is like nothing I have ever seen in my time here.

I want to thank Senator Sterle from the opposition—and, hopefully, the crossbenchers for their support for this inquiry. It is our proposal to call Minister Nalder and Main Roads Western Australia. If this project is so great, let's see any evidence at all and let the argument stand or fall on its merits.

Xxx

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 be agreed to.