Perth Freight Link: FOI documents revealing cost blowout outdated, Government says

The Barnett Government has been accused of misrepresenting the true cost of the Perth Freight Link project by billions of dollars after Freedom of Information (FOI) documents are released, a claim Treasurer Mike Nahan has dismissed as a lie, saying the documents are out of date.

WA Labor leader Mark McGowan said Main Roads documents obtained by Upper House candidate and former Labor infrastructure minister Alannah MacTiernan show the project cost could blow out to $5 billion, rather that the $1.4 billion previously stated by the Barnett Government.

Ms MacTiernan said she had fought for more than two years to obtain the documents through FOI.

The document carries a header: Attachment 6 — Options to extend Roe Highway beyond Stock Road to Fremantle.

It canvasses a range of options from a surface road at up to $1.2 billion, to a tunnel that reaches Fremantle and crosses under the Swan River to the port at a cost of up to $8.5 billion.

The Government stated in January, Roe 8 would cost about $500 million while Roe 9 would cost about $900 million, and comprise a tunnel from Stock Road under suburbs of White Gum Valley, Beaconsfield and Hilton, before emerging at Stirling Highway at Fremantle.

Mr McGowan said the details contained in the Main Roads documents were of real concern, and the Government's attempt to restrict access to the documents was further evidence of a culture of secrecy and cover-up.

"They (Main Roads) analysed the projects and came up with those figures, and it shows a near $5 billion blowout in the cost of the Perth Freight Link," he said.

"I think what it shows is that you can't believe Mr Barnett and the Government's commitments when it comes to transport or anything else."

The Perth Freight Link, which will create a heavy transport route from Perth's industrial eastern suburbs to Fremantle Port, is one of the critical policy divisions between Labor and Liberal in the election campaign.

The Liberal-National Government has committed $700 million to the $1.9 billion joint state-commonwealth funding for the project, which includes the Roe 8 extension of Roe Highway to the Stock Road, and a further extension called Roe 9 into Fremantle.

WA Labor has pledged to axe Roe 8, which crosses the Beeliar Wetlands, and then shelve the entire Perth Freight Link project in favour of developing a plan for a new outer harbour.

Early estimate only, Liberals say

Treasurer Mike Nahan said the document is old and the numbers have no relevance to the project the Barnett Government is undertaking.

"These people cannot, on Roe 8 and Roe 9 are, I'll be honest, are just a pack of liars," he said.

"We are on the verge of signing a contract with a reputable builder to build Roe 9, including a tunnel for $1.2 billion."

Dr Nahan dismissed Labor's claims as "fiction" and said Labor was desperate because it was "losing the debate" over Roe 8.

"Main Roads, Infrastructure Australia and the contractors have looked at it and come up with a total cost for Roe 8 of $1.2 billion and they're about ready to sign on the line," he said.

Premier Colin Barnett backed the Treasurer and dismissed the document as outdated, accusing Labor of exaggerating.

"I don't know what Mark McGowan is on about," Mr Barnett said.

"Suggesting it is $5 billion to $8 billion is rubbish.

"There are lots of documents around but that is not the cost of the project."

Federal Liberal Minister Christian Porter said the estimate was from 2014, and was not based on any engineering assessment or assessment by the private sector, and was preliminary only.

But Mark McGowan remained unconvinced.

"This is a document provided by Main Roads, a government agency. They provided these figures. Not us. Not someone else. Main Roads," he said.

"I think its of extreme concern and what I think is going on is the government just wants to get through the election and we find out, massive cost blow outs."