Wednesday, 21 September 2022

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Ministers statements: rail network

Mr CARROLL
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Ministers statements: rail network

 Mr CARROLL (Niddrie—Minister for Public Transport, Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, Minister for Business Precincts) (14:14): I rise to update the house on how the Andrews Labor government is transforming public transport right through regional Victoria. We know regional Victoria is booming—record unemployment, strong agriculture, strong tourism and, just around the corner, the Commonwealth Games, and there is the Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery right there—but our Big Build is transforming communities. It is giving rail infrastructure and jobs for local people. We know part of the Big Build is a $4 billion Regional Rail Revival, upgrading every regional railway line right across our great state—more than 20 train stations being upgraded, $8 billion regional stock being put on the line, brand new VLocitys. Isn’t it great that we have got the Geelong Cats playing in the grand final this weekend? I know the train driver over there, the outgoing member for Lara, will want to be captain—along with the members for Bellarine, Geelong and South Barwon—of a Cats convoy coming from Geelong, going to the station that has been upgraded at Waurn Ponds, getting on a brand new train that has been delivered by the Andrews Labor government, and getting to the MCG. There will be extra services before the game, extra services after the game and extra services for the grand final parade.

That is what happens when you invest in transport. Those opposite, we know, had a rolling stock agenda that was behind the ACT government. They did not order one tram when they were last in office. Compare a government that is doing what matters with an opposition that does not know what it is doing. We are getting on with the job, making sure our transport is transport for the 21st century, addressing cost-of-living issues and climate change and investing in the future for young people, for students, for every Victorian, no matter where they live, whether it is Melbourne or Geelong. Go Cats!

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