Carmen Lawrence accused of about-face over road funds

15/6/94

"Former Premier Carmen Lawrence has performed an abrupt about face over the issue of Western Australia's declining share of Commonwealth road funds," Transport Minister Eric Charlton said today.

"Less than two years ago as Premier, Dr Lawrence was quite correctly arguing with Canberra over the serious downgrading of road funds to the State but now as Federal Member for Fremantle and a Federal Minister, she is dancing to a different tune altogether.

"In correspondence dating back to 1992, Dr Lawrence was categoric in her support of what I am trying to achieve today.  Behind the scenes, she was pleading with the Federal Government not to proceed with secret plans to cut $8 million from WA's National Highway System allocation for 1992-93."

Mr Charlton said the issue related to the decision by the then Federal Treasurer John Dawkins to transfer $8 million from the State's NHS allocation to the Subiaco Oval redevelopment.

In a letter to Mr Dawkins, dated July 9, 1992, Dr Lawrence said:  "I cannot agree to this proposal as WA has very substantial needs for road funding which are not being met from existing resources. WA's share of national and arterial road funding from the Commonwealth has declined substantially in the last few years."

"This very stark turnaround in attitude by Dr Lawrence is effectively a sell-out of WA's interests and shows up her political opportunism for all its worth," Mr Charlton said.

"Dr Lawrence also presided over a government that raped WA's roads of much needed funds, and she now has the dishonesty and audacity to criticise the 'Fix Australia - Fix the Roads' campaign."

Mr Charlton said the previous State Labor Government redirected $300 million in State fuel tax revenue from roads to public transport to artificially keep down fares as well as squandering $350 million in compulsory third party funds on WA Inc deals.

He said the Coalition Government was progressively returning all State fuel levy revenue back to roads.

He also described as a nonsense the Opposition's argument that the Government should be directing all revenue from motor vehicle charges and fees to road funding.

"This has never been the case, and Dr Lawrence and other members of the Opposition well know it," Mr Charlton said.

"More than $97 million is made available each year for roads through the collection of motor vehicle licence and permit fees, while some $70 million annually from charges on drivers' licences, temporary permits and police licensing and recording fees associated with vehicle registrations are paid into Consolidated Revenue and allocated to police licensing and services.

"A further $107 million is paid yearly into Consolidated Revenue by way of stamp duty on vehicle licences and $263 million goes into the SGIC by way of third party insurance.

"Up until Labor's interference, all State fuel levy funds were put into roads, and that will again be the case by 1997.

"These are well-established and traditional State funding principles, and it is foolish of the Opposition to suggest that any Government start fiddling with that balance."

Media contact:  Dean Roberts 321 7333 or 222 9595