Wednesday, 17 August 2022

Ministers statements: Suburban Rail Loop

Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery) (14:29): I am delighted today to update the house on the delivery of the Suburban Rail Loop. This is a project that is supported by Monash University, Deakin University and La Trobe University. This is a project that hospitals, including the Monash Children’s, the heart hospital and Box Hill Hospital, support. This is a project that the RACV, the state’s peak car industry body, supports. This is a project that local councils support. This is a project that industry, construction, property, development, employee and jobs bodies support. This is a project that Victorians want. This is a project that Victorians voted for. Anyone who is living and working in the suburbs of Melbourne and is stuck in their car or sitting on a bus would support it.

We know not everyone supports the Suburban Rail Loop. They do not support the connections it will bring. They do not support the thousands of jobs it will support. Some in this place will cut the Suburban Rail Loop. We have seen today a desperate stunt from a desperate individual. Imagine wanting to cut 20 000 jobs just to save your own. Former Premier Jeff Kennett cut and closed rail lines. The Leader of the Opposition wants them cut before they are even built in this state. In government you are faced with choices: to invest and build or cut and close.

There are some who during their time in government delivered nothing. Imagine being in Doncaster. You were promised a train line; it was never delivered. Monash University: you were promised a train line and it was never delivered. Now those opposite want to do it again. In government they promised it and did not deliver it, and now they want to take away from Doncaster and Monash University the connections that the Suburban Rail Loop would deliver.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Frankston will leave the chamber for the period of 1 hour.

Member for Frankston withdrew from chamber.