Barnett tells McGowan to name developers

The Barnett government and Labor attacked each other over how the WA opposition's $2.54 billion Metronet rail network would be paid for.

The Barnett government has challenged Labor to name the property developers who it says will help it raise $667 million to fund its key election promise of a $2.54 billion new Metronet train network.

Labor also attacked the WA government, accusing Treasurer Mike Nahan of misleading voters by releasing Treasury costings putting Metronet's cost at $6.8 billion to $9.8 billion but which included various projects that are not part of the opposition's plan.

Labor's plans to fund Metronet include a 22.7 per cent, or $667.1 million, portion from sales of crown land.

The government has rubbished the claim, pointing out that its own comprehensive land sales program had struggled to make $147 million because of a soft property market.

Premier Colin Barnett has fallen out with some prominent Perth business figures in recent months, who commissioned, funded and released a private poll that found he would lose the election.

Mr Barnett accused those involved of interfering in the government, which included investment banker John Poynton, property developers Nigel Satterley and Greg Poland and Perdaman Chemicals chairman Vikas Rambal.

"Who are the developers he (Mr McGowan) has been negotiating with, how do they stand to benefit?" Mr Barnett said to reporters on Tuesday.

"I heard Mark McGowan on the radio this morning boasting he's been talking to land developers, my immediate thought was who are they."

Labor's Transport spokeswoman Rita Saffioti said she had talked to "a number of industry players" who were interested in significant land holdings in Perth's north-east growth corridor.

"The development industry came to me a number of years ago and said in relation to first home buyers there's not a lot of large parcels of land available," she told reporters.

She also criticised Dr Nahan for claiming Metronet would be more than double or even triple Labor's stated $2.54 billion cost.

The treasurer included a $3.9 billion rail tunnel and 30 level crossing removals as part of his costings for Metronet despite them not being part of Labor's plan.

"To come out with that type of analysis and think anyone would actually believe, to come out and put projects that aren't in our Metronet then somehow inflate it to a $10 billion project is an absolute disgrace," she said.

Mr Barnett defended his treasurer, saying Dr Nahan was right to include the extra costs and works because they would be needed and Labor's figures were "under the mark".


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Source: AAP



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