Former WA premier Carmen Lawrence attacks Perth Freight Link plans

source: abc news

Former WA premier Carmen Lawrence attacks
Perth Freight Link plans

Former WA Labor premier Carmen Lawrence has launched a scathing attack on the proposed Perth Freight Link, labelling the State Government "pig-headed" and the Environmental Protection Authority "weak".

Dr Lawrence is now a professor of psychology at the University of Western Australia, and rarely makes political comment.

The North Fremantle resident said the stage one Roe 8 component of the $1.6 billion Perth Freight Link was an "absolutely ridiculous idea" that was shelved by several previous governments for good reason.

"God knows why they've chosen to put it back on the agenda and to spend the best part of $2 billion on part of a road that in the end goes nowhere, it gets stuck at the Stirling Bridge ... It's wrong headed and pig-headed," she said.

The Barnett Government has committed to the completion of Roe 8 through the Beeliar Wetlands by extending the Roe Highway from Kwinana Freeway to Stock Road, with contracts expected to be awarded in the coming months.

The second stage, known as Roe 9, would link Roe Highway to the Fremantle Port by an as-yet undetermined route.

Dr Lawrence said the business case for the freight link project was incomplete and did not fully take into account social impacts.

"We don't know what these other effects will be let alone on the sense of human wellbeing and community, and big roads like that drive a wedge right between communities," Dr Lawrence said.

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