Thursday, 10 February 2022

Ministers statements: Suburban Rail Loop

Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Leader of the House, Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop) (14:37): At the 2018 election Victorians voted overwhelmingly to endorse the Andrews Labor government’s plans to build the Suburban Rail Loop. Since then we have not wasted a minute in planning the biggest transport project in Victoria’s history, which is more than just a rail line. It is a transformative city-shaping project that will bring public transport to new areas, slash travel times and provide connections to jobs and education.

We had a big year in 2021, which I am very happy to recap, that shows how we are moving into the delivery phase. We extensively consulted with communities. We confirmed the station locations and the alignment of the Suburban Rail Loop east part of the project, released the business and investment case, passed the enabling legislation to establish a dedicated authority and started the environment effects statement process.

2022 will be an even bigger and better year for the project. Construction starts later this year on the early works package. We have already awarded the contract and, most importantly, not only does this government have a pipeline of projects, we have set up a pipeline of skilled workers as well. Fourteen per cent of the people working on the early works package will be reserved for trainees, cadets and apprentices. In 2022 we are moving through the major contract phase. We have committed $9.3 billion in funding for this part of the project. We are getting on with delivering this project while we see those opposite fumble and fail at every opportunity this week—getting information wrong, missing the call; they cannot even organise themselves to stand up in question time. They cannot even put on a mask—schoolkids can but not those opposite.