Crook secures support for Portlink from The Nationals

The Portlink Project has taken another significant step forward after Leader of The Nationals, the Hon Warren Truss MP, threw his support behind the project at the Federal Conference of The Nationals over the weekend. 

Mr Truss described PortLink as a “visionary project” and used his key note address to the Federal Conference to emphasize the project as a priority for The Nationals. 

“This is an example of a regional infrastructure project that can have huge and lasting economic benefits for the entire nation.

“Tony Crook has worked tirelessly to highlight the significance of the Portlink project to The Nationals, and his work has ensured it will be on our agenda as part of the next Government.  I look forward to working with Tony to see how we can make Portlink happen sooner rather than later” Mr Truss said.

Mr Crook said he had been a passionate supporter of the Portlink project in Canberra, and was pleased that his lobbying had placed the project squarely on the national agenda. 

“As well as Warren Truss, I have also hosted the Prime Minister, the Minister for Transport, as well as Darren Chester MP Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure in the electorate of O’Connor to be specifically briefed on this project. 

“I am pleased that this lobbying has paid off, and that The Nationals have pledged their support to this regionally and nationally significant project.” 

Chairman of the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission, Mr Jon Price said that Tony Crook had been supportive of the Portlink project from the beginning and that it was great to have the opportunity early in the year to show Warren Truss components of stage one of the project.

“Portlink is a nation building project and will be transformative for regional Western Australia and has the potential to open up new opportunities in central Australia,” Mr Price said. 

“We are very pleased that The Nationals consider Portlink a national priority as we complete the detailed feasibility studies in the next two years.”  

Portlink is a road and rail infrastructure project that will link Western Australia’s major ports at Esperance, Port Hedland, Fremantle and the proposed Oakajee port, as well as an intermodal transport hub in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. 

The Portlink feasibility study has been funded by both the State and Federal Governments and the Steering Committee comprises representatives from local, regional, state and federal government departments.