Coalition rail advertisement highlights Coalition hypocrisy

10/11/04
The Coalition reached new heights of hypocrisy today when three Liberal candidates attempted to take credit for the Southern Suburbs Railway in a Mandurah newspaper.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said an absurd attempt by the candidates to claim the visionary project as a Liberal initiative in an advertisement was so at odds with reality that it would bring them into contempt with the electorate.
"The people of the southern suburbs know the truth - they know that only a Gallop Labor Government will deliver the railway all the way to Mandurah by 2006," Ms MacTiernan said.
"Labor has announced the route, Labor has signed the contracts and Labor will deliver the railway.
"They know that in eight years of government, the Coalition did not lay a single centimetre of rail - in opposition they have continually attempted to sabotage the project."

The Minister said the advertisement completely contradicted the views of Opposition leader Colin Barnett and Coalition frontbenchers, who were on the record opposing building the railway all the way to Mandurah.
"This eleventh hour attempt by a few shameless Liberals to hijack Labor's New MetroRail Project proves once again that the Opposition has a promise for every person - even if it means contradicting themselves," Ms MacTiernan said.
"In Mandurah, the Liberals portray themselves as the champions of the project, yet in Perth, they are New MetroRail's harshest critics.
"Only Labor is unequivocally committed to delivering the Southern Suburbs Railway all the way to Mandurah - only Labor can be trusted to deliver it."

Re-writing history - the Coalition's true position on the Southern railway:

Max Trenorden MLA, Coalition Deputy-Leader (Hansard, p. 962, 12/9/02):
Mr E S Ripper: Do you support the rail project?
Mr M W Trenorden: No. We will oppose it all the way.
Mr E S Ripper: You do not support the rail project at all?
Mr M W Trendorden: No.
Katie Hodson-Thomas MLA, Liberal Transport spokesperson (The West Australian, 2/3/04):
"I support the position that the Nationals have taken and want the whole party room behind me. Can the whole bloody project."
Paul Omodei MLA (Hansard, p. 939, 12/9/02):
"I do not agree with the project at all. It is miles ahead of its time. It is an absolute waste of taxpayers' money. The Government is trying to con the people of Western Australia into believing they need a railway line when they do not."
Colin Barnett MLA, Leader of the Opposition (WA Business News, 25/9/03):
'(Mr Barnett) said the first stage to be constructed would be from Kenwick to Thomsons Lake. Only once that was built and operational would the next stage to Rockingham be considered on its merits, as would the next stage to Mandurah.'
Willy Packer, prominent Liberal and Peppermint Grove branch member (720 ABC Radio, 23/1/04):
'.this enormous demand in the southern suburbs, (the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure) talks about this enormous demand, but it's not there. When you leave Thomsons Lake, on the trip south..you get a situation where you're amongst cattle. Now those cattle aren't going to be travelling.'
Minister's office: 9213 6400