Liberal MLC confirms Liberal Party's anti-rail agenda.

18/5/04
A senior Liberal MLC has revealed his party wants to close the Perth-to-Fremantle rail line and does not support the popular northern suburbs line.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said Perth's growing passenger rail network would face a grim future under a Coalition Government.
Ms MacTiernan said the Liberal Party's secret anti-rail agenda was confirmed in the Upper House last week when senior Liberal MLC Simon O'Brien let slip that the Opposition supported the closure of the Perth-to-Fremantle line.
During the same debate, Mr O'Brien went a step further and said the Liberal Party did not support the Perth-to-Joondalup line.
Ms MacTiernan said she was horrified by Mr O'Brien's admissions.
"The comments show the Liberal Party is clearly anti-rail and that anti-public transport sentiment runs very, very deep within the party," she said.
"This is just the latest exposure of the Liberal Party's radical, anti-rail agenda.
"In the past months, we have seen Federal Liberal Senator Ian Campbell, Opposition spokeswoman Katie Hodson-Thomas and Liberal Party office-holders such as Willie Packer all demand the scrapping of the Southern Suburbs Railway.
"The Liberal Party now owes an explanation to the 257,000 people who use the Fremantle and Joondalup lines each week.
"When it comes to public transport, the divide between Labor and Liberal has never been greater.
"The Gallop Government is committed to getting people out of cars and onto public transport by expanding our rail network, including the new Perth-to- Mandurah line.
"The Liberal Party wants to choke our freeways with cars and blanket our city with smog.
"The Liberals already oppose building the southern suburbs railway all the way to Mandurah and now they want to close the Fremantle and Joondalup lines - what a disgrace!"
A transcript of Mr O'Brien's comments, along with other recent statements by Opposition members, is below.
Minister's Office - 9213 6400

Legislative Council Transcript - May 12, 2004 (page 2737)
Hon KEN TRAVERS (abridged): A previous Labor Government reopened the Fremantle to Perth line. That was a great decision that even members opposite now would not disagree with. Do they still support the closure of the line?
Hon SIMON O'BRIEN: Yes.
Hon KEN TRAVERS (abridged): Hon Simon O'Brien wants to close down the Fremantle line again. Is that not wonderful? The Labor Party reopened the Fremantle line - a great decision - and built the northern suburbs railway line. I suppose members opposite do not support the northern suburbs line either.
Hon SIMON O'BRIEN: We do not.
Hon KEN TRAVERS: This is getting better! The Opposition does not support the northern suburbs railway line.
Other Liberal/National Party comments
HON KATIE HODSON-THOMAS MLA (The West Australian, March 2, 2004)
In reference to the New MetroRail Project:
"I support the position that the Nationals have taken and want the whole party room behind me. Can the whole bloody project."
HON PETER FOSS MLC (Hansard p. 2501, 05/11/02)
"If the previous Government can be criticised for anything, it is for proposing to extend the railway from Rockingham to Mandurah."
HON PAUL OMEDEI MLA, (Hansard p. 939, 12/09/02)
"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."
HON MAX TRENORDEN MLA (Hansard p. 962, 12/09/02)
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. Trenorden: No.
HON COLIN BARNETT MLA (Business News, September 25, 2003)
"Mr Barnett believes the Kenwick route could be built in stages to stagger the financial burden, allowing the government to do it as it could be afforded.
"He 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."

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