Wednesday, 29 July 2026

 Jess WILSON (Kew – Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): My question is to the Premier. Yesterday the Premier said his government would review the Suburban Rail Loop. Will the Premier admit that the cost of this project exceeds $34.5 billion?

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Premier, Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Medical Research) (14:03): What I can say is we have delivered record investment in public transport and we will continue to deliver record investment.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Nationals! Members will come to order. I barely heard what the Premier said in his very short time on his feet. A point of order, member for Brighton?

James Newbury: And yet, Speaker, it was not relevant.

The SPEAKER: I am glad that you heard it, member for Brighton, because I did not.

Anthony Carbines: On the point of order, I think you have pre-empted my response, Speaker, which is that after 9 seconds I think the Premier is entitled to give more information to the house.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has only been on his feet a short time. Premier, come back to the question.

Ben CARROLL: I make this very crystal clear to the Leader of the Opposition: the government I lead will treat every single dollar with the respect it deserves.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Members will come to order. Members will be removed from the chamber without warning, member for Wendouree.

 Jess WILSON (Kew – Leader of the Opposition) (14:05): The Premier said this morning:

I’m going to be a Premier that doesn’t break contracts …

Will the Premier rule out cancelling the Suburban Rail Loop, which he signed up to as a minister and the Deputy Premier?

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Premier, Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Medical Research) (14:05): I said very clearly that I will run a very strong team, and we will not be cancelling contracts. That era is over.