Wednesday, 1 November 2023

 Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Roads and Road Safety) (14:25): I know we are all raring to go. We have got a beautiful, sunny Melbourne Cup next week. Plus, do you know what it means? It means it is the perfect time to get our crews racing ahead with vital repairs to our regional road network. Recently I was thrilled to be with my colleagues the members for Eureka and for Wendouree to kick off the Allan Labor government’s $770 million maintenance season. Let us think about that for a second – $770 million. That is $2 million a day that we are spending on the repairs our roads need. We have got hundreds of workers out across the state. They have filled over 370,000 potholes, but we have got more to do.

I know the member for Ripon will be stoked that we are spending $11 million on the Western Highway after having filled in hundreds of potholes. But it is not just Ballarat. The member for Bass knows how critical the Bass Highway is for her community, and we have got works planned there too. Speaker, even yours and the Premier’s communities will benefit from smoother journeys thanks to work on the Loddon Valley Highway. Even the member for Euroa can cool her jets on road maintenance because we are doing works on the Goulburn Valley Highway. And I have not forgotten about you, member for Gippsland South. We are out doing work on your South Gippsland Highway, and I look forward to seeing one of your signature little selfies on your Facebook page.

The past few years have been some of the wettest our state has ever seen. This has taken a toll on our roads, and we are focusing on repairing this damage. But now we have got a guaranteed 10-year funding pipeline of $6.6 billion so we can futureproof work on our roads and build more resilience into the network. It is part of our commitment to improve connections and make roads better in every corner of Victoria.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Can I remind members and ministers to speak their contributions through the Chair. Member for South-West Coast, you are warned.