WA Ag Minister laughs off reporter's nude run threat
The Opposition has poured doubt on the Government's costings for the controversial project, which was announced in February during the election campaign and doesn't yet have a formal business case.
The West Australian's Ben Harvey, in his Sunday Times column, said he was 'so certain the race track won't come in on time and budget' that he pledged to run a lap fully nude on the race track's opening day if he was wrong.
Government Minister Jackie Jarvis suggested the tongue-in-cheek bet would be extra motivation to keep spending in check, before realising he was betting the budget would blow out.
'It's an entertainment precinct, I'm not sure that's the type of entertainment we had in mind,' she told reporters on Sunday.
'It's a quandary. I mean we want to be careful with taxpayers' money, we might just have to have a closed track option that day!'
Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas is confident the nude run won't happen, declaring the project will run over budget.
'The Minister admitted to me the $217 million dollar cost of the project is a guess based on draft assessments,' he said.
'This is a Government who don't listen and don't care, they do what they want and spend what they want. And they don't follow the rules.
'Minister Saffioti couldn't even confirm in estimates if the race track will be assessed by Infrastructure WA.'
Labor confirmed a business case for the Burswood entertainment precinct is 'in development' during Budget estimates, when the Premier was put under pressure to explain why the plan has not been submitted to Infrastructure WA for independent assessment.
'I can confirm that the proposal has not been submitted, and Infrastructure WA has not yet been provided with a business case for assessment,' Mr Cook said. Liberal leader Basil Zemplias at a rally against Burswood race track at Parliament House Credit: Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian
'Obviously it is a project that at this stage is estimated to be over $100 million once the design and business case has been completed. It would, as a matter of course be referred to Infrastructure WA for its views.'
A group of companies was awarded the contract to design and build the project this month, as the Cook Government aims to finish the racetrack in time for the opening round of the V8 Supercars in 2027.
The consortium that includes Seymour Whyte, Civmec and Aurecon was the same group behind Perth's Boorloo pedestrian and cycling bridge that opened in East Perth in December and was $50 million over budget.
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Meanwhile, Labor is likely hoping for more Barnaby because if anyone makes the Coalition seem completely out of touch, it's him. Introducing his bill in the almost empty chamber yesterday, he cut a lonely figure - like an old and confused man yelling at clouds. His arguments for abandoning net zero were delivered in a hoarse voice. Shouting when few are listening can do that. Shouting is also necessary when you've failed to read the room and understand why your Liberal partners have been bleeding seats for so long now. Here's a hint, Barnaby: people want action on climate change. That's why they've chosen so many independents in once blue-ribbon Liberal seats. That's why the Coalition has been driven out of the cities. It's not just the domestic room Barnaby's failed to read. If he'd been paying attention he'd have learned that solar power is being embraced energetically around the world, even in the countries he lists as not setting net zero targets. New solar projects account for the equivalent of another coal-fired power station every 15 hours. Leading the charge towards renewables is China - one of the countries he singles out. Even Joyce's claim the bush is dead-set against renewables is flaky. A recent survey if 1000 regional residents in Renewable Energy Zones found 70 per cent supported renewables. I checked with a friend - a journalist based in the central west of NSW - who said opposition to wind farms and new transmission lines was probably overstated and the bigger issue was the lack of consultation over where they should go. Joyce's bill will get nowhere. The numbers tell us that. The only winner will be the government, which is thanking its lucky stars that not only does the electorate keep on returning Barnaby but he keeps throwing his oversized hat into the ring just like he did in October 2021. Remember that? That's when the then leader of the Nationals - yep, Barnaby Joyce - announced that he'd struck an agreement with then PM Scott Morrison to agree to committing to, you guessed it, net zero. So, really, this latest Quixotic titling at windmills is little more than a fall off the political planter box. A look-at-me moment Labor is relishing while the Coalition buries its face in its hands. HAVE YOUR SAY: Is Barnaby Joyce harming the Coalition with his stance on net zero? Would the Liberals have been wiser to make the brief split with the Nationals a permanent arrangement? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - The United Nations is urging Australia to set ambitious climate and renewable energy targets in its next net-zero update to secure future jobs and a rich vein of clean exports for the country. - Parents are being warned their kids may be exploited online for child abuse material, amid a push to criminalise the use of apps that "nudify" pictures. - Three years after a fatal chopper crash, reality TV star Matt Wright has pleaded not guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice. THEY SAID IT: "The shift to a cleaner energy economy won't happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way. But the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact." - Barack Obama YOU SAID IT: Donald Trump said he'd usher in a new golden age. He didn't expect it to be comedy and satire - at his expense. Sue writes: "Humour is my go-to for dealing with most things, good or bad. Particularly important in politics where so much is out of our immediate control and any limited control we have may be delayed or take a long time to have any effect. Laughter can provide a perspective that allows us to deal with difficult things, even if, sometimes, the humour is pretty dark. Favourite cartoonists include Petty, Leunig and Pickering but have to say that I really enjoy Pope's and Broelman's work as well." "Mockery, ridicule, satire and just laughing at them are highly powerful in politics and will bring down fake pretenders," writes John from Port Macquarie. "Imagine what the moniker Scottie from Marketing and all that cosplay behind truck steering wheels, pushing mops along already cleaned floors, waving lumps of coal, giving unwanted handshakes and conducting squeamish hairdressing sessions did to our most phoney of prime ministers." Deb writes: "Humour is essential in politics. It's able to cut through the crap and exposes the usually confronting main points. My opinions on an issue have definitely been shaped by cartoons or comedy sketches. And most importantly, they save us from despair. If we don't laugh we would flood the world with tears." This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to He's Labor's not-so-secret weapon, almost guaranteed to inflict damage on the Coalition whenever he opens his mouth. He's a gift to the government, even though he sits opposite. He is, of course, Barnaby Joyce, member for New England, one time deputy PM and former leader of the Nationals. As if the Coalition wasn't at a low enough ebb already, its numbers so depleted it barely registers as a political force. Along comes Barnaby with his latest doomed bid for attention - his private member's bill to scrap net zero. His more sensible Liberal partners are probably wondering if that brief separation after the election drubbing should have been permanent. Meanwhile, Labor is likely hoping for more Barnaby because if anyone makes the Coalition seem completely out of touch, it's him. Introducing his bill in the almost empty chamber yesterday, he cut a lonely figure - like an old and confused man yelling at clouds. His arguments for abandoning net zero were delivered in a hoarse voice. Shouting when few are listening can do that. Shouting is also necessary when you've failed to read the room and understand why your Liberal partners have been bleeding seats for so long now. Here's a hint, Barnaby: people want action on climate change. That's why they've chosen so many independents in once blue-ribbon Liberal seats. That's why the Coalition has been driven out of the cities. It's not just the domestic room Barnaby's failed to read. If he'd been paying attention he'd have learned that solar power is being embraced energetically around the world, even in the countries he lists as not setting net zero targets. New solar projects account for the equivalent of another coal-fired power station every 15 hours. Leading the charge towards renewables is China - one of the countries he singles out. Even Joyce's claim the bush is dead-set against renewables is flaky. A recent survey if 1000 regional residents in Renewable Energy Zones found 70 per cent supported renewables. I checked with a friend - a journalist based in the central west of NSW - who said opposition to wind farms and new transmission lines was probably overstated and the bigger issue was the lack of consultation over where they should go. Joyce's bill will get nowhere. The numbers tell us that. The only winner will be the government, which is thanking its lucky stars that not only does the electorate keep on returning Barnaby but he keeps throwing his oversized hat into the ring just like he did in October 2021. Remember that? That's when the then leader of the Nationals - yep, Barnaby Joyce - announced that he'd struck an agreement with then PM Scott Morrison to agree to committing to, you guessed it, net zero. So, really, this latest Quixotic titling at windmills is little more than a fall off the political planter box. A look-at-me moment Labor is relishing while the Coalition buries its face in its hands. HAVE YOUR SAY: Is Barnaby Joyce harming the Coalition with his stance on net zero? Would the Liberals have been wiser to make the brief split with the Nationals a permanent arrangement? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - The United Nations is urging Australia to set ambitious climate and renewable energy targets in its next net-zero update to secure future jobs and a rich vein of clean exports for the country. - Parents are being warned their kids may be exploited online for child abuse material, amid a push to criminalise the use of apps that "nudify" pictures. - Three years after a fatal chopper crash, reality TV star Matt Wright has pleaded not guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice. THEY SAID IT: "The shift to a cleaner energy economy won't happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way. But the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact." - Barack Obama YOU SAID IT: Donald Trump said he'd usher in a new golden age. He didn't expect it to be comedy and satire - at his expense. Sue writes: "Humour is my go-to for dealing with most things, good or bad. Particularly important in politics where so much is out of our immediate control and any limited control we have may be delayed or take a long time to have any effect. Laughter can provide a perspective that allows us to deal with difficult things, even if, sometimes, the humour is pretty dark. Favourite cartoonists include Petty, Leunig and Pickering but have to say that I really enjoy Pope's and Broelman's work as well." "Mockery, ridicule, satire and just laughing at them are highly powerful in politics and will bring down fake pretenders," writes John from Port Macquarie. "Imagine what the moniker Scottie from Marketing and all that cosplay behind truck steering wheels, pushing mops along already cleaned floors, waving lumps of coal, giving unwanted handshakes and conducting squeamish hairdressing sessions did to our most phoney of prime ministers." Deb writes: "Humour is essential in politics. It's able to cut through the crap and exposes the usually confronting main points. My opinions on an issue have definitely been shaped by cartoons or comedy sketches. And most importantly, they save us from despair. If we don't laugh we would flood the world with tears." This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to He's Labor's not-so-secret weapon, almost guaranteed to inflict damage on the Coalition whenever he opens his mouth. He's a gift to the government, even though he sits opposite. He is, of course, Barnaby Joyce, member for New England, one time deputy PM and former leader of the Nationals. As if the Coalition wasn't at a low enough ebb already, its numbers so depleted it barely registers as a political force. Along comes Barnaby with his latest doomed bid for attention - his private member's bill to scrap net zero. His more sensible Liberal partners are probably wondering if that brief separation after the election drubbing should have been permanent. Meanwhile, Labor is likely hoping for more Barnaby because if anyone makes the Coalition seem completely out of touch, it's him. Introducing his bill in the almost empty chamber yesterday, he cut a lonely figure - like an old and confused man yelling at clouds. His arguments for abandoning net zero were delivered in a hoarse voice. Shouting when few are listening can do that. Shouting is also necessary when you've failed to read the room and understand why your Liberal partners have been bleeding seats for so long now. Here's a hint, Barnaby: people want action on climate change. That's why they've chosen so many independents in once blue-ribbon Liberal seats. That's why the Coalition has been driven out of the cities. It's not just the domestic room Barnaby's failed to read. If he'd been paying attention he'd have learned that solar power is being embraced energetically around the world, even in the countries he lists as not setting net zero targets. New solar projects account for the equivalent of another coal-fired power station every 15 hours. Leading the charge towards renewables is China - one of the countries he singles out. Even Joyce's claim the bush is dead-set against renewables is flaky. A recent survey if 1000 regional residents in Renewable Energy Zones found 70 per cent supported renewables. I checked with a friend - a journalist based in the central west of NSW - who said opposition to wind farms and new transmission lines was probably overstated and the bigger issue was the lack of consultation over where they should go. Joyce's bill will get nowhere. The numbers tell us that. The only winner will be the government, which is thanking its lucky stars that not only does the electorate keep on returning Barnaby but he keeps throwing his oversized hat into the ring just like he did in October 2021. Remember that? That's when the then leader of the Nationals - yep, Barnaby Joyce - announced that he'd struck an agreement with then PM Scott Morrison to agree to committing to, you guessed it, net zero. So, really, this latest Quixotic titling at windmills is little more than a fall off the political planter box. A look-at-me moment Labor is relishing while the Coalition buries its face in its hands. HAVE YOUR SAY: Is Barnaby Joyce harming the Coalition with his stance on net zero? Would the Liberals have been wiser to make the brief split with the Nationals a permanent arrangement? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - The United Nations is urging Australia to set ambitious climate and renewable energy targets in its next net-zero update to secure future jobs and a rich vein of clean exports for the country. - Parents are being warned their kids may be exploited online for child abuse material, amid a push to criminalise the use of apps that "nudify" pictures. - Three years after a fatal chopper crash, reality TV star Matt Wright has pleaded not guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice. THEY SAID IT: "The shift to a cleaner energy economy won't happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way. But the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact." - Barack Obama YOU SAID IT: Donald Trump said he'd usher in a new golden age. He didn't expect it to be comedy and satire - at his expense. Sue writes: "Humour is my go-to for dealing with most things, good or bad. Particularly important in politics where so much is out of our immediate control and any limited control we have may be delayed or take a long time to have any effect. Laughter can provide a perspective that allows us to deal with difficult things, even if, sometimes, the humour is pretty dark. Favourite cartoonists include Petty, Leunig and Pickering but have to say that I really enjoy Pope's and Broelman's work as well." "Mockery, ridicule, satire and just laughing at them are highly powerful in politics and will bring down fake pretenders," writes John from Port Macquarie. "Imagine what the moniker Scottie from Marketing and all that cosplay behind truck steering wheels, pushing mops along already cleaned floors, waving lumps of coal, giving unwanted handshakes and conducting squeamish hairdressing sessions did to our most phoney of prime ministers." Deb writes: "Humour is essential in politics. It's able to cut through the crap and exposes the usually confronting main points. My opinions on an issue have definitely been shaped by cartoons or comedy sketches. And most importantly, they save us from despair. If we don't laugh we would flood the world with tears."
