Tuesday, 3 February 2026

 Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for Public and Active Transport) (17:43): Victoria is a great place to live and a great place to raise a family. It is a great place to work and, by God, we all know on this side of the house that it is a great place to visit as well. And on this side of the house we are focused on making it even better. Late last year we opened the Metro Tunnel – five brand new underground stations – opening up new connections to our world-class university and medical precinct in Parkville, to the St Kilda Road employment precinct and of course to the shrine and other locations too. Over the weekend the big switch timetable added more than 1200 new services to our rail network, giving more Victorians more options to leave the car at home and to get to jobs, education and the many special events we host here. But this is just the beginning, because our investment in the Metro Tunnel allows us to keep adding more services more often for many years to come – services that, quite frankly, without the Metro Tunnel we could not even contemplate. While we have been busy doing that, we have been making public transport more affordable for families than it has ever been before, with free public transport for under-18s now coming online.

Investment in transport is an investment in Victorians. It is an investment in Victoria’s livability. But of course those opposite tried to block the Metro Tunnel. They tried to block the extra services that it unlocks, because they are always looking backwards, they are never looking forwards. They are always cutting, they are never creating. So while Victorians are now experiencing the benefits of the big switch, they will soon be wondering what switch those opposite will deliver. Is it a switch of leader? Is it a switch to One Nation?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Bulleen can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Bulleen withdrew from chamber.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, ministers statements are not an opportunity to attack the opposition.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order. The minister to come back to her ministers statement.

Gabrielle WILLIAMS: Or is it a switch to MAGA messaging and murky misinformation?

The SPEAKER: The minister will not be continuing with her ministers statement.