Thursday, 7 March 2024

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Suburban Rail Loop

Brad ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (14:03): My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, which government projects or programs are being cut to pay for Labor’s SRL project?

Tim PALLAS (Werribee – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Economic Growth) (14:04): I thank the member for Sandringham for his question. It does give me the opportunity to demonstrate that the Allan Labor government is very much committed to continuing a very substantial investment in infrastructure. We do that because the community not only deserves it but expects it. The average spend on infrastructure for the state of Victoria out of the budget sector before we came to government – each and every year of the 10 years before we came to government – was $4.9 billion a year. Last year the government spent $23.5 billion on infrastructure out of the budget sector. It removed level crossings. What are we at? Seventy-four level crossings were removed right across this state.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier will come to order. There is too much interjecting across the chamber. Members will be removed without warning.

Brad Rowswell: On a point of order, Speaker, I get that it is question time and not answer time. However, under the standing orders the Treasurer is required to be directly relevant to the question which I have asked, which he is not being at the moment.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, there is no point of order. The Treasurer was being relevant to the question, which asked about infrastructure expenditure, specifically the SRL, and I am looking forward to the Treasurer using the next 2 minutes to further –

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the House will resume her seat.

James Newbury: Further to the point of order, Speaker, may I refer you to page 153 of Rulings from the Chair and a number of previous rulings in relation to relevancy, most recently Speaker Brooks in April 2022, and the ruling that a minister’s answer must directly relate to the question asked. For a number of days this week the ministers have used a word in the question to not answer the question that was asked, and I put to you that is exactly what is happening here.

The SPEAKER: As I have indicated previously, I cannot tell the minister how to respond to a question. The Treasurer was being relevant to the question that was asked in relation to government projects and programs and Labor’s SRL project.

Tim PALLAS: The people of Victoria have been asked whether or not they agree with two competing views about infrastructure in this state – one from this government, which continues to invest and grow our infrastructure, and the Suburban Rail Loop of course is a critical part of that. This government went to two elections, sought a mandate and received a mandate from the Victorian people to build the Suburban Rail Loop, and that is exactly what we will do. This is a case of being able to chew gum and walk at the same time. We can deliver infrastructure, and we can facilitate economic growth and opportunity. That is why 530,000 jobs have been created in this state over the last three years, 130,000 more than New South Wales. Why is that? Because this government puts the interests of the Victorian people first. We invest in their futures and we have a long-term and consistent view about how we deliver infrastructure to grow the vitality and the economic opportunity of this state, and we will continue to do that.

I know that the member for Sandringham is soon to be briefed by the Assistant Treasurer, as infrastructure minister, and his team about the Suburban Rail Loop, because he has such interest in it. I understand this afternoon it is going to happen indeed, so you should have left the question until you were properly informed. But let me make the point that because you are so interested in this project –

The SPEAKER: Order! Through the Chair, Treasurer.

Tim PALLAS: I beg your pardon, Speaker. Because the member for Sandringham is so interested in this vital project, it is a clear demonstration that everybody is getting on board with a project that will secure the vitality of the state and deliver the public transport that this community deserves.

Brad ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (14:09): Will the Treasurer admit that the outrageous cost of the SRL is forcing the government to cut other vital projects and programs?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Bentleigh can leave the chamber for half an hour, without commentary.

Member for Bentleigh withdrew from chamber.

Tim PALLAS (Werribee – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Economic Growth) (14:09): No. In fact can I make it very clear to the member for Sandringham that if you look at capital works commencing and continuing right throughout the state of Victoria in the last budget, whether it be in the government sector or the public sector more generally, $200 billion worth of projects are commencing or continuing in this state. The Suburban Rail Loop is assessed as costing, for the stage that is currently underway, somewhere between $30 billion and $34.5 billion. That is over the 10-year construction period that is being proposed. It does demonstrate that effectively 15 per cent of one year’s total capital expenditure is more than doable and more than capable of being managed by the state of Victoria. Yes, we understand that this is a very big project, but it is vital that we deliver it for Victorians.