Tuesday, 27 August 2024

Suburban Rail Loop

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): My question is to the Premier. Will the Suburban Rail Loop be rephased?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:17): Our government has committed to the Victorian community at two elections to deliver the Suburban Rail Loop East by 2035, and we are on track to deliver on that commitment.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:18): Earlier this year the Premier said about the Suburban Rail Loop that:

By 2026, we’ll have … major construction underway at every one of the six station sites.

Will this construction timeline be met?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:18): As I said in my previous answer to the Leader of the Opposition, the Suburban Rail Loop East is on track to be completed by 2035. As part of hitting that timeline, of course, tunnel-boring machines will be in the ground by –

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, I ask that you draw the Premier back to what was a very narrow question, about 2026.

The SPEAKER: I believe the Premier on this occasion was being relevant.

Jacinta ALLAN: As I was saying, there will be tunnel-boring machines in the ground by 2026. I would invite the Leader of the Opposition right now to take a journey to Cheltenham, Box Hill, Mount Waverley, Glen Waverley or Clayton, any one of our six –

A member interjected.

Jacinta ALLAN: or Burwood, do not let me forget Burwood – where he will see right now that there is work underway at all six of those station sites as we get on and deliver the Suburban Rail Loop. Of course Victorians know there is only one side of this house that supports it and that those opposite want to scrap the project and the jobs and the train services it will deliver.