OAKLANDS PARK RAILWAY STATION

Mr HANNA (Mitchell) (15:03): How can the Minister for Transport say today, on a visit to the newly upgraded Oaklands Park Railway Station, that this project has been completed on time and within budget? In a media release dated 6 April 2005, the minister stated that the $7 million upgrade of the Oaklands Park Railway Station would be completed 'by the end of 2006' and in his own media release issued today, the minister values the final cost of the upgrade at $8.5 million; well over the $7 million budget.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy) (15:04): It is a shame, but I do not know why the member for Mitchell has to do this. He has something added to his area to assist his people. I do not know why he wants to do this, but there are two things: I did not actually say in the press release that it was finished on the original time schedule, because that would not have been true, and I did not say that.

I say two things: one is that the original time scale was not met, one reason being that the member for Mitchell held a public meeting and wanted more consultation on it. There he was at a public meeting with all these people saying there had to be more consultation with the community, and lo and behold, what did I do? I did what he asked for. I'm sorry, I do apologise to the member for Mitchell. I'll try not to do what he asks for in future.

Secondly, on cost, if you read the press release you will see the cost of the interchange was $6.8 million—and I am not just telling members about it now; all the Liberal members in the Public Works Committee got it. Because we were doing that work, we incorporated about $1.7 million of other works, including some level crossing upgrade out of the Minister for Road Safety's budget and some other works on the line which, because we were working on that line, it was good to do at that time.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Just listen. All the members of the Public Works Committee have been advised of that. None of the Liberal opposition has suggested what you have suggested—perhaps because they have better information.