Tuesday, September 7th, 2010
Kununurra: Ord Stage II ‘at risk if Abbott wins’
State opposition leader Eric Ripper says a Liberal Commonwealth Government could axe the Ord Stage II project.
He said Mr Abbott promised to cut state infrastructure projects, such as the irrigation project, in his election costings.
You can read Mr Ripper’s statement here:
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MEDIA STATEMENT
Monday, 6 September 2010
WA infrastructure projects at risk if Tony Abbott is PM
Many Western Australian infrastructure projects will be at risk if Tony Abbott becomes Prime Minister, Labor Leader Eric Ripper said today.
Mr Abbott promised to cut funding for states’ infrastructure projects in his election costings.
“The Barnett Government has relied on Federal funding for key WA projects and under a Federal Liberal Government all of the projects would be at risk,” Mr Ripper said.
Federal Government investment in Western Australian projects includes:
$236million for Northbridge link;
$339million for the Oakajee Port;
$195million for the Ord Stage 2 project – Commonwealth’s Nation Building – East Kimberley Development Package;
$180million for the Great Eastern highway upgrade;
$255million for the State Rehabilitation Centre at Fiona Stanley Hospital;
$180million for Midland Health Campus;
$595million for public housing; and
up to $17million for GP super clinics across Western Australia.
“Federal Labor also promised $480 million from 2011-12 for the WA Gateway project and a further $100 million to complete the full upgrade of the Great Eastern Highway from Kooyong road to Tonkin Highway. Mr Abbott did not match these commitments,” he said.
“As the traffic to and from the Perth airport grows along with our mining industry the WA Gateway project is becoming more and more critical. Yet the earliest a Federal coalition government would make Federal funds available for this project is 2014-15.
“Traffic around the Perth airport is already approaching gridlock. Without the project, road transport to Perth airport will become completely dysfunctional.
“Mr Barnett must say how WA can possibly complete these projects without Federal funding.
“I have no doubt Mr Barnett will simply respond with an attack on the mining tax. Yet on behalf of their shareholders, most of whom live outside Western Australia, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have already agreed to pay this tax.
“Simply attacking the tax leaves unanswered the basic question now confronting Mr Barnett and all Western Australians – where is the money coming from for these vital infrastructure projects if Mr Abbott wins power.”
Mr Ripper warned all Western Australians that the failure of a Federal Government to continue to delivery vital funds for major projects would mean bills would continue to rise.
“Mr Barnett prefers to raise family bills whenever he has budget difficulties. Electricity bills have risen 45 per cent since Mr Barnett was elected and water bills have increased by almost 30 per cent,” he said.
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