Wednesday, 31 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) (14:06): The Andrews Labor government is getting on and delivering the Suburban Rail Loop and the 20 000 jobs it will create. That is right, 20 000 jobs will be supported by the Suburban Rail Loop. Today I just want to share one example. A couple of weeks ago with the member for Eltham I met Dylan, a young man who started his career as a rail industry electrician through our government’s Big Build. Dylan told me he was very excited that the Suburban Rail Loop was a project that would ensure his career would continue to flourish into the future. Dylan also told me he was very concerned that the Liberal cuts to the Suburban Rail Loop would not just end his job but end his career. It is young men like Dylan and young women who work across all of our programs—the Leader of the Opposition wants to cut their future career by cutting the Suburban Rail Loop.

Through our Big Build program we have been able to support tens of thousands of Victorians like Dylan across a range of industries but particularly in rail. The skills that Dylan is working on are particular to the rail industry and the huge supply chain of small businesses that support our rail industry. The Suburban Rail Loop is the jobs pipeline that will keep these careers progressing, give young Victorians a head start and provide an income for tens of thousands of Victorian families. This is what the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberals want to cut. They want to cut these jobs. They want to cut these opportunities. They want to cut the future for young people like Dylan, and that is why tomorrow’s jobs and skills summit in Canberra is also so important. It is about supporting a future construction industry pipeline, making sure that we are doing the training of young Victorians and having the projects that they can work on into the future.

Mr Cheeseman interjected.

The SPEAKER: The member for South Barwon can leave the chamber for 1 hour.

Member for South Barwon withdrew from chamber.