Senior federal Labor MP Madeleine King has pushed back against her colleague Patrick Gorman after he criticised the WA Labor government’s controversial plans to build an entertainment precinct and street circuit in Burswood.
On Sunday, Mr Gorman publicly called for the government to abandon the $217 million racetrack project, first proposed in the lead-up to the March state election, citing extensive concerns from local constituents and community groups.
“It is no surprise to anyone that as the Member for Perth my longstanding and firm view is that the Burswood Racetrack should not proceed,” he said in a statement.
A social media ad promoting the Burswood street circuit during the WA election campaign. (ABC News: Gian De Poloni)
But the Resources Minister and federal member for Brand rejected Mr Gorman’s comments and reiterated her full support for the project.
“I prefer to take a wider view of this matter — allow the state to undertake the sensible consultation they have committed to,” Ms King told the ABC in a statement.
“I think the government’s plans for a multiple use zone including a 20,000 person outdoor amphitheatre, a road cycling circuit and a space that can host an annual motorsport event is a terrific idea; especially given the links to excellent public transport to service the south, north and east.”
Gorman polling
Mr Gorman said on Sunday the concerns he heard about the project started “immediately after the election commitment” and the ABC understands that was when the member for Perth started to quietly oppose the project from behind the scenes.
He said the concerns were amplified after the release of a community consultation report — results some groups claim were largely to spin the appear positive.
The motorsport street circuit is one part of the planned entertainment precinct at Burswood Park. (Supplied: WA Labor)
It’s understood Mr Gorman’s office has conducted its own polling that included questions about the Burswood project.
Asked whether she supported the project, the local federal member, Swan MP Zaneta Mascarenhas, said she recognised “the wide range of views in our community” and was “listening closely to community feedback”.
“I have heard concerns, and people’s ideas, and will continue to engage with the state government on the project,” the Labor MP said.
“My priority is to ensure our community’s voice is heard.”
One ABC Radio Perth caller, 75-year-old Sandy, said she received a federal phone survey call last week from Mr Gorman’s office asking about her thoughts on the project.
Parts of the parkland at Burswood near the Swan River is set to be ripped up to make way for the multi-purpose community entertainment venue. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)
“It asked about a couple of federal issues, but three of the … five or six questions were state-based and one of them included what did I think about the proposed street racing circuit and did I approve of it and then my opposition to it, of what reason,” she said.
“I thought, well that’s really odd … for a federal politician to be asking a state-based question.”
Widespread criticismÂ
The project was first pitched as a street circuit for motorsports and cycling which would attract tourists and generate tens of millions of dollars, but it’s garnered vocal backlash from nearby residents, the Greens, the Liberals — and now from within Labor’s own ranks.
WA Premier Roger Cook wasn’t fazed by Mr Gorman’s comments on Monday.
“Politicians having a difference of opinion particularly on a specific project is nothing new,” he told reporters.
WA Premier Roger Cook has downplayed the disagreements within Labor over the racetrack. (ABC News: Nic Perpitch)
“I think keeping our election commitments is a pretty important priority.”
Labor’s fracture follows comments from WA Greens Leader Brad Pettitt last week alluding to state-based tensions over the issue.
‘Rita’s racetrack’ divides opinion
“Many backbenchers are quietly saying ‘we agree with you’,” Mr Pettitt said last week.
On Monday Mr Pettitt said he had had “several conversations with [state] Labor backbenches” who were “feeling uncomfortable” about the project, again calling for the government to abandon it.
“Deep down Labor knows this government doesn’t have support [for the project] no matter how much they might want to spin their community consultation,” Mr Pettitt said.
Mr Gorman declined an interview with the ABC about the suggested polling done by his office.
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