WA election: Five things we learned on the campaign trail today
Updated
Here are five key moments from the election campaign trail in Western Australia today:
1. Metronet 'affordable and achievable'
Labor told us how it is going to pay for its Metronet heavy rail project, and has promised that increasing state debt is not part of the plan.
The first stage of Labor's plan to massively expand Perth's public rail system will cost more than $2.5 billion and take six years to complete.
Opposition Leader Mark McGowan says it is "affordable and achievable" and more than 10,000 jobs will be created.
He says it will tap a mix of state, private and commonwealth funding, which it will reallocate from the Perth Freight Link project.
2. Perils of 'fake funding'
The Metronet costings had barely pulled out of the station before Treasurer Mike Nahan was claiming the project was off the financial rails.
He accused Labor of "fake" funding for the project and said its figures were "laughable", with the real cost of the project closer to $10 billion.
"It'd add $2.4 billion in debt. It simply doesn't add up. It doesn't add up. And their means to overcome this by redirecting money from Perth Freight Link. From land sales and from value capture are fake," he said.
3. Deputy Premier Liza Harvey spruiked her social justice credentials
Ms Harvey took to the streets of central Perth to sell The Big Issue this morning.
Last year, Premier Colin Barnett courted controversy when he was filmed asking for change from a Big Issue vendor outside the ABC studios in East Perth after handing over $10 for the $7 magazine.
The following day The Big Issue tweeted a picture of Labor Leader Mark McGowan buying a magazine from the same vendor with a $20 note and telling her to keep the change.
4. Bernadi departure 'no drama'
While Canberra convulsed over the potential defection of conservative MP Cory Bernadi from Liberal ranks to start his own party, Mr Barnett predicted any federal upheaval would have little impact on his re-election chances.
"Cory Bernadi? Who would know Cory Bernadi if he walked down the street? Not many people," he said.
Both the Premier and Ms Harvey argued that anyone elected with the support of the Liberal Party owed their loyalty to the party.
5. Nothing to see here
Mr Barnett and Liberal Member for Perth Eleni Evangel both denied any Liberal Party involvement in a reported campaign to discredit Labor candidate John Carey.
Mr Carey is the former Mayor of the Town of Vincent and is running against Ms Evangel in the seat of Perth.
Questioned by reporters, Ms Evangel said she had no involvement in any campaign to attack Mr Carey personally.
"I can absolutely give you an assurance when these conversations have come up with me I have disengaged and not participated in any hearsay or conversations," she said.
Ms Evangel said there were "conversations" going on "out there" about Mr Carey but said her response had been "I don't want to be involved in this".
Topics: elections, rail-transport, wa
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