Today I asked the Premier to explain the delay in the release of the WestConnex business case that the Government had committed to publicly releasing in mid-2015?
Ms JENNY LEONG: My question is directed to the Premier. Will the Premier explain the delay in the release of the WestConnex business case that the Government had committed to publicly releasing in mid-2015?
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Strathfield will come to order.
Mr MIKE BAIRD: I thank the member for Newtown for another sensible question that again shows members how to ask questions and represent their communities. The Labor Party could learn a lot from The Greens members. In simple terms, there has been a change in configuration in the business case. The opportunities that come through Rebuilding NSW provide additional opportunities to connect to the north and the south. That is being finalised and will be released.
Ms Jodi McKay: When?
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Strathfield did not ask the question; the member for Newtown asked it. If she has a point of order she can make it, but there are no grounds for one at the moment.
Mr MIKE BAIRD: It will be released.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Blacktown will come to order.
Mr John Robertson: I am sorry, Madam Speaker. It is open mic day again and the Jerry Seinfeld of New South Wales is at the microphone.
Mr MIKE BAIRD: Robbo, we would back you in. A lot of momentum is going to the member for Maroubra but I think we need to shift it and bring back Robbo. I thought the member for Maroubra's time was coming.
The SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members will come to order. I am sure the member for Newtown would like to have her question answered without interjections.
Mr MIKE BAIRD: But they need to be careful because when the member for Maroubra gets the numbers he still does not run.
Ms Jenny Leong: Point of order: My point of order relates to Standing Order 129. I asked the Premier to explain the delay in the release of the business plan.
The SPEAKER: Order! I have noted that due to the interjections from the Opposition, which the Premier was responding to, he has not been able to get to the part of the question the member for Newtown wanted answered. I am sure he will do so.
Mr MIKE BAIRD: I answered the member's question up-front and explained the reason. Members opposite have not forgotten that when we came to government we established Infrastructure NSW and asked it to look at all of the economic priorities across the State. What was the number one priority that it identified? It was WestConnex. Infrastructure NSW has signed off on that as well. We know the member is against WestConnex. Importantly, we also know that the Leader of the Opposition is against WestConnex. We know that the Leader of the Opposition loves congestion. He is probably like the former member for Toongabbie, who said that being in congestion is like being in love. We know that is also what the Leader of the Opposition thinks. Members on this side of the House are determined to take away congestion. WestConnex is just one part of that. I remind the member that we are also building the metro. The metro together with WestConnex will take away congestion. We are determined to do the right thing by the people of this city.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Strathfield will come to order.
Mr MIKE BAIRD: A big part of doing the right thing is taking away congestion. WestConnex and the Sydney Metro will achieve that. We are getting on with doing it and we are proud to be doing it. We have committed to releasing the WestConnex business case and that is exactly what we will do. We look forward to having further discussions but, ultimately, we are not backing away from WestConnex because we are determined to make a difference to people in Western Sydney. We are determined to reduce their travel times and put more jobs and infrastructure into Sydney. We are determined to improve productivity in the city because that is what Sydney needs.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Newtown will come to order.
Ms Jodi McKay: Point of order: My point of order goes to Standing Order 129 on relevance, and given I am closer to the dispatch box than the member for Newtown, I agree with the member for Newtown that we need to have the business case released.
The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has been relevant to the question. There is no point of order. The member for Strathfield will resume her seat. The Premier is not answering a question she asked.
Mr MIKE BAIRD: It is pretty simple. Have we not said that we will release it this year? Yes, we have said that on many occasions. So it will be released this year.
Ms Jenny Leong: But why the delay?
Mr MIKE BAIRD: I have explained the delay.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Newtown has already asked her question. The member for Newtown will come to order.
