Thursday, 7 April 2022

Responses

Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Leader of the House, Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop) (17:20): I will respond directly to the matter raised by the member for Sandringham. His action that he was seeking from me was for me to meet with representatives of the Bayside and Kingston councils to discuss the delivery of the Suburban Rail Loop, particularly the precinct at Cheltenham, and the potential removal of level crossings at the Highett and Wickham road intersections on the Frankston line.

With all due respect to the member for Sandringham, I do not need his invitation. I have been meeting already with representatives of those councils, and indeed in the next week I will be meeting with one of those councils to discuss the exciting investment that the Andrews Labor government is making in those local communities. Only a few weeks ago I remember meeting with the mayor of Bayside council, Alex del Porto, and the mayor of Kingston council, Steve Staikos, and some other local government representatives, specifically on the delivery of the Suburban Rail Loop, because we really look forward to working in partnership with local councils on these exciting opportunities to bring in more public transport services and the opportunity to invest in open space, in jobs and in housing in these local areas.

What we do not need is the ongoing scare campaigns and opposition that we are seeing from local Liberal Party members. We know they want to stop the Suburban Rail Loop. We know they have commitments to indeed scrap the Suburban Rail Loop if given the chance. We have seen just this week some disgraceful attacks by those opposite on those who work in the authority, who are working day and night. As the local member said—and I agree—we want to get this done correctly. What we do not need is the ongoing and personal attacks from those opposite on the good people who work in the authority, who are working flat out consulting with the local community and listening to the local community. These are the same people that those opposite criticise. These are the same people that those opposite would scrap and sack if they were given the opportunity, because we know they want to slash the infrastructure pipeline.

That brings me to the response to the local member on the call to see the Highett and Wickham roads level crossings. He mentioned the budget next month—like, goodness me! We have made $4 billion worth of investment on the Frankston line in removing level crossings and upgrading new stations, and every single one of those locations was opposed and criticised by those opposite, so—

Mr Rowswell: That’s not true.

Ms ALLAN: It is true, member for Sandringham, and I will happily show you the record of how we have had nothing but opposition.

The SPEAKER: Through the Chair.

Ms ALLAN: The opposition has joined forces with people who have taken us to court to stop the removal of level crossings. These people have used councils and used other mechanisms to try and stop and block these projects. They have used every opportunity to try and block these projects, and do you know what? We have ignored those opposite, because they went to the last election with a policy to take money out of the level crossing removal program. They are not committed to level crossings. They did not fund and finish a single level crossing when they had the opportunity to in government, and now they hate the fact that we have removed 59 level crossings and are on our way to remove 65 by the end of this year.

As I said, with all due respect to the member for Sandringham, yes, I will continue to talk and work closely with those local councils. I have had great opportunity on a number of occasions to meet with the mayor of Kingston, Steve Staikos, I have had a great opportunity to meet the mayor of Bayside council, Alex del Porto, and I look forward to continuing those strong partnerships with those local councils as we get on and deliver the projects we committed to and ignore the calls from those opposite to scrap these infrastructure pipelines that are about delivering better services to local communities.

Another nine members raised matters for other ministers, and they will be referred for their action and response.

The SPEAKER: The house now stands adjourned.

House adjourned 5.24 pm until Tuesday, 3 May.