Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 5:28:54 to 5:34:20
Examination of the Westport rail enabling works and the impact of workforce shortages, driven by AUKUS and the resources sector, on Western Australian infrastructure delivery.
Topics: Infrastructure, Employment
Speakers: Senator Matt O'Sullivan, Jessica Hall, Melony Czajor, Speaker 23, Unknown Speaker, Senator Glenn Sterle
>> Thank you. Uh I've got a number of questions. I'm going to restrict them to just a few and I'll put the rest on notice. Want to stay with Western Australia. Uh and I'll ask about the Westport um project and uh and the Quanana Freeway. I'll put the Quanana Freeway widening ones on notice. Uh but with in relation to they're obviously both connected but in relation to the uh Westport rail enabling works when was the Commonwealth first advised by the WA government or otherwise become aware that the previously anticipated 2028 commencement date for Westport related
team to answer your questions.
>> Uh, David Maldun, assistant secretary. Sorry. Senator, was a question around when the deal delay to the Westport program? Is that what you
>> when when were you advised?
I don't think we've actually ever been advised about a delay to the Westport program. Senator, in terms of the port side, um, infrastructure,
>> you are aware though that it's been
delayed. Um the Westport port infrastructure is an entirely WA you know le project
>> but we're comwalth putting funding into
>> So Commonwalth is uh providing funding to the enabling infrastructure.
>> That's what I'm asking about
>> the roads and rail.
>> Yeah, roads and rail. Correct.
>> So Senator and can I just clarify? Are you talking about the project development works um in terms of the time frame? So the time frames that I've got for the um the 33.5 million Australian government funded planning works um is that they actually commenced in late 2024 and are due for completion in mid 2028. So we haven't been advised of any delays in those planning works.
>> So my understanding is the West have reported uh the West Australian newspaper that is uh delays. So you're
Senator, I think from reading those reports that was about the Westport port infrastructure was potentially delayed, not the enabling works is my understanding.
>> Has the department received the WA government's KPMG workforce capability
>> Not this department. No. So that that
relates to uh the fact that Orcus is sucking up a lot of the uh workforce as as is the resource sector opportunities that are there. So there's limited workforce availability to deliver on other key infrastructure projects across Western Australia. In particular, it mentions uh Westport and the ability to deliver on that and other key infrastructure projects such as the widening of Quinana Freeway. uh are you you're not you're not familiar with
>> So, we are aware that there is a report that is out there. We haven't the department has not received the report, but we did ask Westport about these when we caught up with them a few weeks ago. Yeah. >> Um and they did not indicate that they thought that there would be any um uh major implications for this particular precinct. Um and we are working with the Department of Defense, Finance, Prime Minister and Cabinet and also um Western Australia to make sure that all of those projects are p um uh sequenced appropriately to be able to manage the delivery in a timely way.
>> Okay. So to be clear, you've not been advised by Western Australia that there would be any delay associated with [laughter] any workforce related issues
>> at this stage.
>> At this stage, have you has this department, your department sought uh done any assessment at all yourself to satisfy yourself as to whether or not or you simply just relying on on that?
We're monitoring the situation um and we're working through it at a broader level in regards to um uh the precinct but I think it's probably just a little bit early days for us at the moment but it is something we're conscious of. So
in relation to the broader issue of delay, is there any have you identified any risk at all in relation to cost escalation for Westport project or any other enabling associated enabling infrastructure that might go with it?
>> So we're not funding Westport. Um >> we're looking but in regards to the enabling infrastructure.
>> Um so Senator, we're not aware of any cost pressures to date. Um and I I noticed you mentioned the Quanana Works. The contract has been awarded for those Quanana highway upgrades and construction is expected to commence in early 2027. So um that is meeting the current time frames that we were expecting from the as a department
>> and within the current budget.
>> Yeah.
>> So we will you've said that there's uh
been no indication that there's workforce issues related to the delivery of that >> project or any other enabling works around >> that. All right. The rest I'll put on notice. Thanks, chair. Thanks for
Senator McKenzie.