Tuesday, 14 October 2025

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:10): There are some who said this about the Metro Tunnel: some said it would never happen, some called it a hoax, some said it would be a disaster and some said it was nothing but smoke and mirrors. Do you know what we call it on this side of the house? Victoria’s biggest transport project in a generation: five new underground stations that from early December will be delivering hundreds of extra services every week, whether you are in Sunbury, Pakenham, Cranbourne or any point along the line in between. And of course let us not forget our friends on the Frankston line, because with the opening of the Metro Tunnel we put the Frankston line back into the city loop. This is the biggest transformation of Melbourne’s and Victoria’s rail network in more than four decades. It is being delivered a year ahead of schedule, and it is opening in early December.

These are not ordinary stations; these are magnificent underground stations that are going to serve our city for the future. Just look at State Library – 42 metres below Swanston Street. The depth is lower than the height of Marvel Stadium, with platforms that stretch 220 metres long, some of the widest in the world, 12-metre-high columns with 70-tonne beams, the longest escalator anywhere in Melbourne, and of course that direct connection into Melbourne Central and city loop services. Let us take a moment to thank those thousands of construction workers who worked incredibly hard constructing the most complex project that has ever been delivered in this state. That is because our Labor government backed it, we funded it and we built it, and it is now opening. Whilst we have built five new stations, those opposite have had five new leaders, but our stations will take you somewhere.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Lara can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Lara withdrew from chamber.