Federal Labor strongly urges Perth residents to have their say in the public consultation process for the construction of the Morley to Ellenbrook railway line.
This important project will be a boon for Perth’s growing north-east suburbs.
Federal Labor has already announced that if elected at the next federal election, we will provide $700 million to help build this new line in partnership with the McGowan Government.
The money would be drawn from Federal Labor’s $1.6 billion Fair Share for WA Fund, to be established by a Federal Labor Government in recognition of WA not receiving a fair share of GST receipts.
With less than a fortnight to go before the close of the State Government’s online community survey about the Morley-Ellenbrook line, it is critical that the people of Perth – who will be the users of the line - provide their input.
If the community is clear about its needs and expectations regarding the project, planners will have the information they need to design a world-class rail line, with construction to begin next year.
It is great for WA that the McGowan Government has a clear agenda to invest in public transport to tackle the traffic congestion which is eroding our national quality of life and costing the economy $16.5 billion a year in lost productivity.
In the absence of transformative projects – such as METRONET - the cost of traffic congestion in Perth will increase more than eight-fold from $1.4 billion to $15.9 billion by 2031.
When the Federal Coalition Government took office in 2013, it foolishly cancelled all Commonwealth investment in public transport.
This included $500 million that had been allocated to Perth public transport projects.
By contrast, the former Federal Labor Government invested more money in urban public transport than all previous federal governments combined since Federation.
The next Federal Labor Government will build on that record.
To participate in the online consultation survey for the Morley to Ellenbrook line, go to www.metronet.wa.gov.au before February 11.