Thursday, 10 February 2022

Responses

Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Leader of the House, Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop) (17:37): I will start with the matter raised with me by the member for Gembrook regarding Quinn Civil, which is a contractor contracted by CPB, which is delivering the early works package on the North East Link Program, remembering this is a very big and important project not just for the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne but indeed for the whole city and state because of what it means in terms of completing the missing link, that really important part of our road network that has been a line on the Melway map for many a decade. It has taken the Andrews Labor government to get on and get into delivering this really important project. That is why we are seeing right now that the early works that started last year are well and truly underway, and we are employing many, many people who will have a number of years of work on this project. The issues of Quinn Civil: I do want to emphasise this is a dispute between Quinn Civil and CPB, which it is contracted to, not to the state government—or not to the North East Link Program authority.

I also want to be clear that I will be very careful in my comments about this matter in this place because this is the subject of a legal dispute and there are processes around that legal dispute that I will not stray into in this chamber in response to the member for Gembrook. Now, that might be disappointing for the member for Gembrook, but I am just not going to unsettle a legal matter that is underway.

I have been very well briefed on a number of occasions about this matter, and I have received requests for meetings from both Quinn Civil and other contractors which have been subject to the issues since Quinn Civil went into liquidation on 23 November last year. I am not able to take up the opportunity at this stage to meet with Quinn Civil or those contractors because, as I said, there are legal matters underway, and matters of liquidation and the quite legal process that follows from how you settle these disputes between the liquidator and the creditors are governed by the commonwealth Corporations Act 2001. With the liquidation process that is underway, I am advised that there will be a meeting between the liquidator and the creditors. A meeting has been scheduled and, as I said, it is appropriate that I remain well briefed, as I am regularly by the North East Link Program authority, on the progress of those discussions.

It is disappointing to see any company going into liquidation in these circumstances. It has been a focus from the authority, and I think it is important to emphasise that the role of the authority is not as a direct contractor. The relationship is not with the North East Link Program, it is with CPB. The North East Link Program is working closely with CPB to look at what actions can be taken to mitigate the impact on downstream contractors and suppliers of Quinn Civil whilst at the same time also ensuring those early works that are underway are delivered in a timely way so we can progress to the major works construction over the course of this year.

The member for Caulfield has continued what has become over the past seven years a long-held tradition of the Liberal Party in this place: to oppose each and every one of our level crossing removals by cloaking it behind a veneer of a level of concern of one type or another. Let us be clear: the member for Caulfield has asked for me tonight to delay the removal of the dangerous and deadly level crossing in his area. That is what would be the consequence of what the member for Caulfield has asked for tonight. He has asked for this project to be delayed. That frankly is just not acceptable. It is not acceptable to me or the government, because we remove level crossings. We do not delay the removal of level crossings that we have committed to. This is particularly important for the Neerim Road and Glen Huntly Road level crossings. I should also add that we are also building a brand new train station at Glen Huntly as well as part of our $4 billion of investment in removing level crossings and building new stations on the Frankston line.

The Glen Huntly level crossing area is a particularly dangerous one. Since 2016 there have been 12 near misses, and 10 of those have involved pedestrians. This is a complex intersection with level crossings. It is one of the few tram squares in Melbourne, which does make it a very, very dangerous and difficult intersection. Also add to that the narrowness of the rail corridor. Yes, it has resulted in the need to remove some vegetation in and around our level crossings to ensure that we can deliver on the commitment to remove the level crossings, make this a safer and less congested area, build a new train station and improve services. Frankly I reject resoundingly the member for Caulfield’s call to delay those works any longer, because they are much-needed works.

I would also like to point out to the member for Caulfield that there is the removal of some vegetation, as I have said, in the corridor, but around 70 per cent of the existing trees in the area will be retained. As part of the project, up to 23 large Canary Island date palms along Royal Avenue will be removed very carefully. They will be looked after very well, and they will be replanted once the major works are complete. This is something we have already successfully done in other parts along the Frankston line. I have already mentioned the narrowness of the rail corridor, which means digging a trench and removing the level crossing in this way has resulted in this removal of vegetation. I would also like to remind the member for Caulfield that there will be two trees planted for every one tree that is removed, ultimately increasing the overall tree canopy and biodiversity of the local area.

Look, we are working very closely with the local community to remove—

Mr Southwick interjected.

Ms ALLAN: I will just repeat, because I appreciate the member for Caulfield enjoys the sound of his own voice. But I want to make sure that my presentation is—

Ms Britnell interjected.

Ms ALLAN: Ultimately, increasing the overall tree canopy and biodiversity of the area—

Mr Southwick: On a point of order, Speaker, it is a requirement for the response to be factual. The minister is verballing me in terms of delaying a level crossing removal. I have been on the record advocating for a quick removal. The government has delayed this level crossing removal, and now the minister is saying they are planting trees—

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party knows that is not a point of order. Leader of the House.

Ms ALLAN: I will repeat for the third time, because I appreciate the member for Caulfield does not have very good listening ears this evening.

Ms Britnell interjected.

Ms ALLAN: Perhaps, Speaker, with your assistance I could repeat for the third time and make sure it is well and truly picked up by Hansard, who are doing their very best to record these proceedings: ultimately we will be replacing two trees for every one that is being removed, remembering that 70 per cent—

Members interjecting.

Ms ALLAN: Oh, for goodness sake. I am going to have a fourth crack at this, and I am very happy to stand here for the next 21 minutes and 52 seconds to make sure that this is accurately placed on the record. For the fourth time: 70 per cent of the existing vegetation will remain. For every tree that is removed there will be two trees planted, increasing the overall tree canopy and biodiversity—

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the House has the call.

Ms ALLAN: Seventy per cent of the existing vegetation will remain. We will be replacing two trees for every one tree that is removed, ultimately increasing the overall tree canopy and biodiversity of the local area.

Mr Southwick: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister keeps repeating her comments, but the question was: are these trees going to be replanted in Glen Eira?

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Caulfield is raising a fraudulent point of order. It is not an appropriate way to make a point of order.

Ms ALLAN: I will have a fifth crack at this. Seventy per cent of the local vegetation will remain. We will be replanting two trees for every one tree that is removed, ultimately increasing the overall tree canopy and biodiversity of the local area. I will repeat that last bit again: increasing the overall tree canopy and biodiversity of the local area.

Now, the Level Crossing Removal Project has been working very closely with the local community, which is why I also reject the member for Caulfield’s request that we halt and delay this project and go back and undertake further discussion on this particular issue, because there has already been extensive consultation with the local community on this issue, as indeed there will continue to be, as we do on each and every one of our level crossing removal projects right across the state. I really thank the local community for the way they have really engaged with our team on this project. This is a much-needed level crossing removal that only the Andrews Labor government is delivering for the Glen Huntly community, and I trust the member for Caulfield will accurately represent this response back to the local community.

The remaining eight members raised matters for various ministers, and they will be referred to them for their action and response.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, members. The house is now adjourned.

House adjourned 5.47 pm until Tuesday, 22 February.