Premier Colin Barnett renews hope new PM Malcolm Turnbull will fund WA rail projects
Colin Barnett hopes the new Prime Minister will widen federal infrastructure to include
public transport rail projects.
public transport rail projects.
WA Premier Colin Barnett hopes new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will expand the Federal Government's infrastructure funding to embrace rail as well as roads.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott had refused to fund public rail projects, arguing trains had traditionally been a state responsibility.
But with the change in leadership, Mr Barnett said he hoped Mr Turnbull would favourably consider reform to GST arrangements and help fund major rail projects in WA.
"They will be the two prime discussion points. GST, and where the Commonwealth wishes to go in terms of transport funding," Mr Barnett said.
"And I do hope Malcolm Turnbull changes the position and puts Commonwealth money both into road projects and public transport projects."
The Liberal Party went to the last state election promising two major rail projects — Max Light Rail and the Forrestfield-Airport Rail Link.
Both were touted as fully costed and fully funded, but both were initially heavily reliant on securing federal funding.
Faced with its deteriorating budget position, the Barnett Government had to choose which project to fund itself, and subsequently deferred its Max Light Rail project for at least three years.
Mr Barnett was asked if a change in the Federal Government's funding policy could be used to bring forward the Max Light Rail project from its revised 2022 completion date.
He said it was too early to tell.
"It could, but we'll wait and see because I haven't had that discussion," Mr Barnett said.
Yesterday, WA Opposition Leader Mark McGowan urged Mr Turnbull to redirect funding from the $1.6 billion Perth Freight Link project to public transport rail projects.
Mr Barnett scoffed at Mr McGowan's suggestion.
"Do you seriously think that Malcolm Turnbull is going to be listening to Mark McGowan on transport in Western Australia? Don't think so," he said.
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