Tuesday, 31 October 2023

Armadale train station

Michael O’BRIEN (Malvern) (13:35): In 2016 – that is seven years and four public transport ministers ago – the historic delicatessen building at Armadale railway station was closed down by Metro Trains Melbourne and Public Transport Victoria, apparently because it was structurally unsafe. For seven years now Armadale locals have watched as this heritage building has progressively deteriorated, literally rotting before their eyes. It is a terrible eyesore, but it also serves as a visual example of the neglect by this Labor government of the people of my electorate, because despite this issue having being raised by me with three successive Labor ministers for public transport – the member for Bendigo East; the member for Williamstown, who is at the table; and the member for Niddrie – nothing has happened. If this condemned building was at a major railway station in a Labor seat, we would have seen a response in seven days, not seven years. My challenge to the new Minister for Public and Active Transport is pretty simple: sit down with PTV – your department – sit down with Metro and sit down with Stonnington council and fix this long-running eyesore at Armadale station. Demonstrate to my constituents that this government actually gives a damn about people who vote Liberal and elect Liberal members to this Parliament. Decisions should be made on the basis of merit, not simply on the basis of the political colour of your local MP.