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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Federal Government is contributing substantial funding to the WestConnex Motorway despite no business case being released,

(ii) the Environmental Impact Statement for the M4 East Tunnel shows it will be at capacity by 2031,

(iii) irreparable damage would be done to the Haberfield conservation area with hundreds of people forced from their homes and many heritage houses slated for demolition,

(iv) asbestos waste is being removed from the M5 interchange site in St Peters,

(v) removal of that asbestos waste is continuing without any environmental impact statement having been released, and

(vi) local residents have collected evidence that safety regulations are being breached in relation to the removal of the asbestos waste; and

(b) calls on the Government to hold current and future scheduled federal payments to the WestConnex project until the full business case is made public and proper community consultation and planning approvals are complete.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The WestConnex project is one of the largest transport infrastructure projects in Australia. This project will improve travel times, create 10,000 jobs during construction, boost economic activity in Western Sydney and help breathe new life into Parramatta Road businesses and residential corridor. WestConnex is expected to deliver $20 billion worth of economic benefits to the New South Wales economy and will help stimulate local economies. The New South Wales government announced on 7 May that any non-commercial in-confidence data from the business case will be released by the government—expected to be later this year.

For each stage of WestConnex, an EIS will be prepared, taking into consideration environmental and community concerns. The committee, including residents and local businesses, will be able to express their views throughout these processes. The M4 East EIS is publicly on public display for comment until 2 November 2015. The new M5 EIS process is expected to commence in late 2015.

This is an important project. It will deliver significant economic and productivity benefits.

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

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.

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

Labor was not consulted on the wording of this motion. Parts of this motion are factually inaccurate. Labor believes that the WestConnex business case should be released. Labor shares the concerns of the New South Wales Auditor-General about the poor planning process undertaken by the New South Wales government, which is driving this project. Federal funding for WestConnex has already been paid.

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

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 906 be agreed to.