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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-05-08 Daily Xml
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Southern Expressway

Mr ODENWALDER (Elizabeth) (15:04): My question is to the Minister for Police. What action has the minister taken to deliver on the government's promise to immediately issue a tender for companies to build grate-style fences along the Southern Expressway?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (15:04): As the promise that the member for Elizabeth refers to falls under my jurisdiction, I will seek to answer it.

Yes, the member is correct that on radio it was said that, immediately upon coming to government, we would issue a new tender. I can inform the house that, immediately on coming to government, the department has started work to deliver on that promise. We are in the early stages of putting together that tender, but there have been a number of meetings, including in conjunction with members of SAPOL, to deliver on this promise, but there is actually a broader piece of work that needs to be done.

It's not simply about sticking up a fence. There is more work there that needs to be done so, when it comes to dealing with rock throwing incidents on the Southern Expressway, yes, we do need to deliver a fencing solution, and work is underway to get that done. But there's a broader piece of work that needs to be done on whether or not CCTV cameras are appropriate. The department has also been down there to inspect the site and have a look at whether or not getting rid of rock material around the bridges in question is also an important thing that needs to be delivered and whether or not these anti-throw screens are a solution that can be delivered further down the track.

Work is underway. We did start that work immediately, and I have had a number of meetings with my department about it. I know that the Minister for Police and I have been working extremely closely to deliver on that. But I did want to make a broader point when it comes to the delivery of these promises. I am aware that we, as the new government, are here to be held to account, but what I have found extremely churlish was seeing footage on television of members of parliament who used to be part of a government that could have done something about this. The minute that it was all care and no responsibility, that's when they decided to rock up to a forum.

Mr KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: The minister will be seated.

Mr KOUTSANTONIS: The minister is now debating.

The SPEAKER: Yes, the minister is now debating this. The member for King.

Mr ODENWALDER: A supplementary, sir.

The SPEAKER: No, I have called the member for King.

The Hon. J.A.W. Gardner: Sorry, sir, the minister hadn't finished.

The SPEAKER: I have called the member for King.

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