Wednesday, 17 August 2022

Ministers statements: Suburban Rail Loop

Ms D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Minister for Environment and Climate Action, Minister for Solar Homes) (14:21): I rise to update the house on the Suburban Rail Loop project and the positive outcomes it will have on our environment and our climate change targets. It will take cars off our roads by increasing public transport patronage and active transport options. In fact 606 000 car trips and 2.2 million vehicle kilometres will come off our roads every single day by 2056. The reduction in car use will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and provide other environmental benefits, including improvement to our air quality and a reduction of noise and water pollution.

As part of our world-leading climate strategy we will be the first state in Australia to power all of our government operations with 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2025, including all metropolitan trains and trams. That means all of those extra public transport trips will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy. We are soon to release our air quality strategy, an important part of which is getting cars off our roads. Globally transport emissions remain a significant challenge, and they are going up, which is why we must take every opportunity to turn this around. This kind of innovation and climate leadership is what will help Victoria reach our emissions reduction targets by 2050. Planning for the project will also support Victoria’s shift to a circular economy, considering whole-of-life impacts of infrastructure that is sustainable and resilient in the face of climate change, and it will include renewable energy generation initiatives, integrated water management and other circular economy opportunities. There is no doubt about it—this project is a win for the environment and a win for our livability as the best state in the country, and only our government will actually get on and deliver all of those benefits through this project.