2016-11-22
Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren says the differences in the two sides in the decades-long fight over Roe 8 have never been more stark, with community members working to achieve fair and proper process while the Government continues to seek to side-step its own policies.
“Roe 8 is a culmination of bad decision-making at every level: it breaks the State’s environmental policies, its city planning policies; its Aboriginal heritage policies and its infrastructure investment policies,” Ms MacLaren said.
“This proposal typifies the very worst of the current Premier’s style of government: stubborn determination to press on against the accumulated facts, common sense and popular opinion.
“Today’s listing for a High Court hearing on 16 December to appeal the WA Supreme Court decision is great news.
“But it should not be the Government’s only concern.
“Meanwhile, the community has been skilling up to stop the bulldozers, helping to defend Aboriginal heritage, researching and mounting a legal defence and in Parliaments state and federal the Greens are tearing apart the rationale for spending $450 million for a 5 kilometre road.
“Last week, the Greens’ investigations forced the Government to admit that there is no business case, nor any other of the usual Department of Finance financial assurance stages, for Roe 8.
“This smells of reckless desperation by a Government that fears it is in its last days. No sensible individual or business would ever spend money so carelessly.”
Related campaign: Stop Roe 8 - Save Beeliar WetlandsRelated portfolios: Transport