Wednesday, 5 March 2025

 Sarah CONNOLLY (Laverton) (09:47): Look out, folks! To say I am excited is an understatement when it comes to Labor announcing we are getting on with building Melbourne Airport rail. As a proud westie I know this is huge, and on my side of the bridge we cannot wait to get started. The next step in this hallmark project for Labor is transforming Sunshine station into a superhub. Sunshine station is one of the most critical rail junctions in Victoria, and we need to untangle it to deal with demand on the rail corridor in Melbourne’s west. These works at Sunshine will also mean we can get on and rebuild Albion station. Locals in this patch have a love–hate relationship with Albion station. They love having a train station close to home, but they absolutely hate the derelict state of it. So it was fabulous to have the Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan pop down to the station to take a walk on the platform alongside the member for St Albans and me to see just how much this station needs attention. We are not talking about a lick of paint, we are talking about an $80 million rebuild of the station from the ground up. My message to commuters and locals is clear: Labor is going to build you your station, which you not only need but deserve, one you can finally feel proud of. My message to westies is this: unlike those opposite, who are blocking and cutting every chance they get, only Labor will deliver the essential infrastructure Melbourne’s west needs now and into the future.