Questions without notice and ministers statements
Transport infrastructure projects
John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): My question is to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. The former Minister for Transport and Infrastructure oversaw $30 billion of cost overruns on major projects. What is the minister going to do differently to rein costs in?
Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:03): What a great opportunity it is on a Thursday to talk about our Big Build agenda. We are not wasting a day when it comes to delivering the projects that Victorians have voted for not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. When it comes to removing level crossings, when it comes to building the fantastic Melbourne Metro tunnel and when it comes to delivering on the Suburban Rail Loop – a city-shaping, nation-building project that is just exquisite in its size and scope and its imagination – we are not wasting a day. We are getting on with it, and we are going to have fun.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Polwarth is warned. The member for Kew is warned. The member for Berwick is warned.
John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:04): The West Gate Tunnel project is three years late and $4 billion over budget. When will Victorians be able to drive through it?
Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:04): I am curious that the Leader of the Opposition would ask this question. I do not think he has ever been to the western suburbs in his life. The reality is it will open when it is open.
James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, this is an important project, and I expect the minister to treat the question seriously.
The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.
Danny PEARSON: This is a really exciting project. It is going to revolutionise the way people connect to the city from the western suburbs. We have not wasted a day in office. If you think back to those opposite, I mean, you had a four-year holiday from work –
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier will come to order.
John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, it is a very simple question of when people will be able to drive on the West Gate Tunnel.
The SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The minister was being relevant.
Danny PEARSON: It will open when it is open.