Tuesday, 29 August 2023

Ministers statements: transport infrastructure projects

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop) (14:27): Leadership is about investing in projects for Victorians both for today and planning and delivery for tomorrow, and of course that is exactly what the Andrews Labor government is doing. It is exactly what we are doing. Let me give you some examples of projects that have been put in the too-hard basket by some, but we have got on and delivered those projects because that is exactly what Victorians need.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Caulfield will come to order. The Leader of the Opposition!

Jacinta ALLAN: Let me start with the Metro Tunnel, a project that is now a full year ahead of schedule. Do you know where it sat for four long years between 2010 and 2014? Do you know where it sat? In the Liberal Party too-hard basket, because they were not prepared to show any leadership to step up to the plate, work through the challenges of delivering projects and get on and support the future needs of the city.

Do you know what also sat in that too-hard basket? Level crossings. When the then Labor opposition said, ‘You know what? We’re going to give this a crack. We’re going to get rid of 20 by 2018 and another 50 by 2022’, they said, ‘Oh, that’s all too hard. You can’t do that’. Today 72 are gone, we are well ahead of schedule and every single one of these level crossings has been opposed by the Liberal Party. We will get on and deliver the projects our growing city and state need.