Wednesday, 5 June 2019

 Mr TAYLOR (Bayswater) (10:01): I stand in this house today as a member of a government that gets things done—a government that sees what needs to be done and then does it. I am still coming down from the excitement of the budget early last week, I really am, because one of the things we are doing is getting people moving. We are building the transport network for the future—a network to cater for our growing needs. We are building the Suburban Rail Loop. We are getting rid of 75 level crossings. We are upgrading train stations, building the Metro Tunnel and giving more people more opportunities to catch public transport. Those opposite are very, very jealous.

But we are also building roads. We are building the missing link in Melbourne’s freeway network: the fully funded $15.8 billion North East Link. It will connect an upgraded Eastern Freeway to the M80 ring-road. This project includes overhauling the Eastern Freeway by creating new lanes, which will get people moving faster, safer and sooner, as well as creating a dedicated express bus lane. You will be able to get to the airport without stopping at one single traffic light. But that is not the only thing this project creates: this fantastic project will slash travel times, get trucks off local roads, connect the growing northern and south-eastern suburbs and create thousands of local jobs for Victorians.

Speaking about roads, the residents of my electorate benefit enormously from the North East Link, but also I was very proud that last week’s budget announced a $1.6 million investment into upgrading the intersection at Bedford Road and Canterbury Road in Heathmont, making it safer for residents. We are getting on with delivering the roads and infrastructure that Victorians need.