Tuesday, 27 August 2024

Ministers statements: Metro Tunnel

Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:27): I rise to update the house on the Metro Tunnel project, a project we are getting on with and those opposite cancelled. The Metro Tunnel is a game changer for the way in which Victorians get around our city, making it easier and, importantly, making it more convenient to use our public transport network. We have connected the Sunbury line in the west and the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in the south-east through five world-class, elite new stations.

For the very first time, Victorians will have train services at the doorstep of St Kilda Road’s commercial precinct as well as Parkville’s world-class health, education and research precinct. Of course we are delivering a new Arden station to kickstart growth in this suburb so more people can live closer to where they work and play. Daily commutes will be quicker and easier for workers heading to the St Kilda Road precinct from Sunshine, from Footscray, from Narre Warren or from Cranbourne, saving time, and there will be more convenient access to work via Anzac station for the very first time. I know members will be delighted to know that for the very first time students right across the state will be able to catch the train to RMIT and Melbourne University, making it quicker and easier to get to class each day.

The project is at its most complex stage, with two new stations built deep below the heart of the CBD. Like keyhole surgery, this is being done with minimal interruptions to our CBD. But it was too hard for those opposite. That is why they axed this project and they walked away from our western suburbs. It was all too hard for those opposite when they had the opportunity. They kicked it down the road. They said in 2017 it was a hoax. They said there was all this talk and not any action.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, again the minister is using a ministers statement to attack the opposition.

The SPEAKER: I ask the minister not to attack the opposition in his ministers statement.

Danny PEARSON: We do not shy away from the hard work, and we are making great progress. Just think, we are going to get on and deliver this project. The Allan Labor government will deliver this project in 2025, 12 months ahead of schedule.