WA Labor senator Glenn Sterle was looking forward to seeing a detailed business case for the Perth freight link after the senate passed a motion to conduct an inquiry into the controversial $1.6 billion project last week.
The vote passed 37 to 27, with only Coalition senators opposing.
The inquiry could see previously confidential documents made public including cost benefit analyses.
Mr Sterle would chair the inquiry and said the project had been a shambles ever since it was announced last year.
“This project came out of thin air, there is no business case,” he said.
“It’s the kind of idea you come up with on the back of a beer coaster in a pub after a day on the punt and piddle.
“They have more excuses than a pregnant nun.”
Mr Sterle said he would invite WA Transport Minister Dean Nalder and Premier Colin Barnett to argue their case for the project and once and for all show the route, timing, cost and benefits of it.
Last week the transport workers union (TWU) threw its support behind the project.
Mr Sterle, a former TWU representative and truckie, said he was on the same page as the TWU in that Perth needed a better way to move freight and people from the Perth to Darwin Highway to the port.
He said it was ludicrous to think rail could move all of Perth’s freight and he supported developing the outer harbour.
Mr Nalder would not answer questions about whether he was worried about the inquiry or whether there was too much secrecy surrounding the freight link project.
In parliament last week Mr Nalder said there was a base case for the project, which was going down Stock Road, High Street and Leach Highway.
“And that base case still stands, but I have said – I have apologised for this to the broader community – that I am trying to find a better outcome for the community than taking it down Stock Road and High Street,” he said.
“We have a critical time period coming up, a critical junction, when the proponents will come back to us with possible solutions.
“At that point we may move away from the base case, and therefore we may need to look at the timing, and I am hopeful that we will.”
The WA Greens senator who moved the inquiry motion Scott Ludlam said the public was owed an explanation for the project and asked Mr Barnett to take a deep breath and back away from the project.
“When you’re in a hole as deep as this, it’s best to stop digging,” he said.
The inquiry would open for public submission shortly and would meet to organise hearing dates.
The Roe 8 extension was expected to alleviate congestion on Leach Highway.
