Wednesday, 15 October 2025

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:31): I rise to update the house on how the Metro Tunnel will bring huge benefits to workers and patients right across our healthcare system. Thanks to record investment from the Allan Labor government, we know that our Parkville precinct is home to world-class hospitals. It is not just me saying this. Peter Mac was recently ranked amongst the top 15 cancer hospitals anywhere in the world. From groundbreaking cancer treatments to outstanding trauma care and exceptional maternity and paediatric care, our hospitals in Parkville care for thousands of patients from right across this great state every single day. With the brand new station at Parkville, Metro Tunnel will transport patients from across the state straight to the health care that they need at RMH, at Peter Mac, at the women’s and at the children’s. As a proud out-of-towner, I know how important train access is for regional Victorians.

And of course there is also our healthcare workforce. Tens of thousands of workers go to work in the Parkville precinct every single day. I was so proud to join nurses and midwives from the precinct back in April, and their excitement at the new station and the opportunities that it would deliver to them was absolutely palpable. From December they will be able to hop on a train from their home stations on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines and be taken straight to work. We know how valuable this is going to be, particularly for our shiftworkers. And with the big switch coming on in February, our healthcare workers will get home even sooner, with thousands of new train services commencing right across the network. Only the Allan Labor government will do the right thing by our workers, making sure that they have got the transport that they need, looking after regional patients and delivering the transport services we need for now and the future.