Thursday, 16 November 2023

Infrastructure projects

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:11): My question is to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. Today the Commonwealth removed funding for Geelong fast rail. In 2020 the Victorian government committed to funding half the project. The Premier said to the house that the Victorian people ‘voted for high-speed rail to Geelong’. Why is the government abandoning the people of Geelong and breaking its promise to them?

Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:11): I am delighted to answer this question because the vast majority of the Commonwealth’s projects in Victoria will continue. Over 70 projects at various stages of planning and construction will occur, and these include things like, for example, stage 2 of the Barwon Heads Road upgrade, which I know the outstanding member for Bellarine is thoroughly looking forward to as part of that.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, this was a very clear question about Geelong fast rail and the broken promise, and I would ask you to bring the minister back to that question.

The SPEAKER: The minister had just commenced his response. I ask the minister to respond to the question that was asked.

Danny PEARSON: We will continue, obviously, to work with the Commonwealth – this review has just been handed down this morning – to ensure that we get our fair share. The former Morrison government took the approach of committing money to projects for just a fraction of the amount required. That is obviously a significant challenge. As I said, this report was just handed down this morning, so we will work with the Commonwealth to ensure that funding is retained here in Victoria. That is obviously our key priority – making sure that every dollar that has been allocated to Victoria stays here, that we get our fair share and that we are able to invest in transport improvements in Geelong and the region. We will sit down with the Commonwealth to work on these matters, but it is important to note on these matters that it is only the Labor Party that is doing what is required when it comes to investing in regional rail. When it comes to the investments in rail to Geelong, to Ballarat, to Bendigo and to Gippsland, we invest in regional rail. We do not shut down lines. Those opposite, they were the ones –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: I would ask the members on my left to stop interjecting across the chamber.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is debating the question.

The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question.

Danny PEARSON: As I was saying, we will continue to invest in regional rail because that is what we do. The member of Mildura is in this place. She did not get the train down here because those opposite shut down the Vinelander. We are the ones that reopened the line to Bairnsdale. So we are investing in regional rail, and we will always fight for our share from Canberra, unlike those opposite, who stayed silent for nine years while their mates in Canberra robbed the state blind.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Evelyn can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Evelyn withdrew from chamber.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is clearly attacking the opposition, which is out of order.

The SPEAKER: I ask the minister to come back to the question. The minister has concluded his answer.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:14): The member for Geelong said that the Geelong fast rail:

… will change lives and make it easier for locals to get to work, school and back home every day

Given this broken promise, how can the people of Geelong ever believe anything a Labor government tells them?

Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:15): I will try not to say anything nasty, because I know the member for Brighton does not like anything nasty being said across the table. Look, Geelong is very well serviced by the outstanding member for Lara, the outstanding member for Geelong and the outstanding member for Bellarine and it is important to note that this review was a review of the federal –

Members interjecting.

Danny PEARSON: Oh, sorry, and the member for South Barwon, although he is not here.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! We know he is very rarely in question time. You have got reason to forget.

Danny PEARSON: I think and I really must say he is missed. He is very missed, the member for South Barwon. But it is important to note that this is a federal review. This is a review from the Commonwealth, and I think that if you look what we have done as a government since 2014 we have invested heavily, whether it is in hospitals, whether it is in schools, whether it is in transport infrastructure, when it comes to Geelong, and the people have overwhelmingly returned Geelong members of Parliament because they know – (Time expired)