RITA SAFFIOTI MLA

SHADOW MINISTER FOR PLANNING; FINANCE; TRANSPORT; INFRASTRUCTURE

STATE MEMBER FOR WEST SWAN

ANNE ALY

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR COWAN

LIBERALS COMMIT TO LABOR ELECTION PROMISE

We were pleased to see Paul Miles MLA, State Liberal Member for Wanneroo, take to Facebook yesterday to join Labor’s campaign for an overpass at the intersection of Wanneroo and Ocean Reef Roads.

During the recent election campaign the Coalition promised $20 million to upgrade the intersection of Wanneroo and Ocean Reef Roads, but refused to commit to an overpass at the time.

The former Member for Cowan, Luke Simpkins, even took to ABC Mornings with Geoff Hutchison on 30 June 2016 to say the idea had no merit.

By contrast, Labor offered investment for the construction of an overpass at the same intersection, as well as Joondalup Drive, on 30 May 2016.

Anthony Albanese, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, came to Perth to reiterate this call for an overpass on 14 November 2016.

Now that Labor’s campaign for an overpass has cross-party support, the Turnbull and Barnett Governments must fast track and expand their promised work on upgrading Wanneroo Road to tackle the traffic congestion that is holding back Perth’s economic growth and eroding our quality of life.

Time spent in traffic is time spent away from family, it’s a daily annoyance for commuters, and it acts as a hand brake on the productivity growth we need to underpin future jobs growth.

Infrastructure Australia has warned that unless the Government moves on the problem now, it will cost the nation $53 billion a year in lost productivity by 2031.

COMMENTS:

Rita Saffioti:

“I’m glad Paul Miles has finally recognised the growing congestion problem along Wanneroo Road and the need for overpasses – the residents of Wanneroo and the surrounding area definitely have.

“Paul Miles, a member of Colin Barnett’s Ministry, now has different position to his own government.

“The Liberals had an opportunity to take a bipartisan approach to getting these overpasses built but chose not to.

“It shows how much of a mess the Liberal Government’s transport plans really are and how wrong their priorities are, choosing to focus only on the flawed Perth Freight Link at the expense of the northern suburbs.”

Anne Aly:

“While I know Mr Albanese can be persuasive, I was surprised that just three weeks after he called for construction of an overpass Mr Miles decided to align with Labor on this issue.

“I will continue to lobby the Federal Government and hold Paul Miles MLA accountable to this commitment, so we can deliver both Wanneroo Road projects as soon as possible.”