Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-02-05 Daily Xml

Contents

GlobeLink

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (16:58): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment a question regarding GlobeLink.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Sorry, the Minister for Trade and Investment (he is being reshuffled one portfolio at a time).

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: On 16 May 2018, the minister was asked about the business case for GlobeLink, and the minister said:

The only reason it would not stack up is that the honourable member's party would be back in government again and the economy would collapse and we couldn't support it. But if we have strong government and strong leadership and a strong federal government and the investment we have in this state, I am sure that the project will stack up.

That was the minister with the rapidly decreasing portfolio load's quote back then. My question is: what of his preconditions are we lacking? Is it a strong state government or is it strong leadership in this state or is it a strong federal government, or what combination of those three is lacking for the business case to not stack up?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade and Investment) (16:59): As I have said on numerous occasions today, we agreed to take a business case forward on GlobeLink. We did that. It has been published and made public. I always said it was a long-term priority. We are focusing on the north-south corridor. The business case does not stack up.