Tuesday, 28 October 2025

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:08): From 6 am yesterday motorists drove for the first time across the new Wurundjeri Way extension. This is the first city bypass that has been built in over 25 years. Every day thousands of motorists will have the opportunity to take in the panoramic views that a number of us, including the minister for roads, the Minister for Transport Infrastructure and, let me get this right as there were a number of members of Parliament, the members for Point Cook, Werribee – who have I left out? – Tarneit and Laverton, had the opportunity to on Sunday morning. They will also have a smoother, toll-free trip around the CBD. This is a road connection that is going to make a big difference. There will be fewer cars on the thoroughfares of Spencer and King streets, and also that means less time being stuck in traffic for families in places like Footscray or Yarraville. This of course is another big step towards the opening of the West Gate Tunnel, a project that is going to change substantially the way people move through and around our city, cutting travel times, taking thousands of trucks off local roads and giving people, whether they are in the inner, middle or outer west or the western regions of our state, the connections they need.

While we are cutting time for people travelling in their cars, there are some who want to cut a whole range of other things, because of course they have a $10.8 billion hole and no plan to fill it.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, ministers statements are not an opportunity for sledging.

Jacinta ALLAN: On the point of order, Speaker, I simply refer the Manager of Opposition Business and former Shadow Treasurer to the fact that I had not mentioned any particular identity of an individual who was doing this, so I have not offended the standing orders in any way.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: Whilst we are working hard to invest in the things that support families, there are some who want to make things harder for those families. But of course we have seen this before: cuts to TAFE, to hospitals. The difference could not be clearer. It is only a Labor government –

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: I will come to that. It is only a Labor government that is going to keep building the state and investing in jobs and the frontline services that Victorians deserve.