Tuesday, 3 March 2026

 Iwan WALTERS (Greenvale) (14:41): (1537) It was a thrill to visit the Somerton intermodal terminal last week with the Minister for Ports and Freight. This is a private sector–led investment and transformative infrastructure project that is a massive vote of confidence in the Greenvale economy. It is owned by Victorian public sector workers through their superannuation – a $500 million project which, at completion, will be Australia’s largest intermodal terminal. It is creating jobs in the north, local jobs in Greenvale, and enabling truck movements to be taken off city streets and away from the Port of Melbourne. It is also great to see the N-class trains, which were built by Clyde Engineering in Somerton, back in Somerton, now repurposed as Southern Shorthaul Rail locomotives, having served V/Line passengers for many years. This has all been made possible, though, by the Victorian government through the port rail shuttle network. My question to the Minister for Ports and Freight is: when the port rail shuttle network terminal in Somerton is fully operational, thanks to a $16.2 million investment by the Victorian government, how many heavy vehicle trips will be saved, making our roads safer for local residents and road users in my community?

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, there are a number of questions still unanswered by a number of ministers: the first is question on notice 3069, unanswered by the Minister for Economic Growth; also question on notice number 3033, unanswered by the Minister for Finance; and a number of questions unanswered by the Treasurer, being questions on notice 2421, 2777, 2853, 2854, 2855, 2856, 2857, 2858, 2859, 2860, 2861 and 2862. The Minister for Government Services has not responded to question on notice 2763, which is overdue, as well as questions on notice 2764, 2765 and 2776. There is also a question unanswered by the Premier, which is constituency question 1442. These are many, many months overdue, and I would appreciate a response for my constituents.