Wednesday, 26 August 2026

 Matthew GUY (Bulleen) (14:21): My question is to the Minister for Public Transport. Yesterday the government claimed it was saving $1 billion from the Suburban Rail Loop by scrapping underground interchanges at Box Hill and Glen Waverley. Today the Auditor-General revealed that at least $1.6 billion of those interchanges was never included in the Suburban Rail Loop’s budget. Why did the government deceive Victorians by painting this as a $1 billion saving when it was never funded in the first place?

 Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Public Transport, Minister for Creative Industries) (14:21): The government has been very clear. This billion dollars has been found through careful scrutiny, and we will find an additional billion dollars in savings when we do our technical review. I am glad to see that the member, who has supported this project, I am sure continues to do so.

Members interjecting.

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

Member for Glen Waverley withdrew from chamber.

 Matthew GUY (Bulleen) (14:22): Isn’t this government policy change just another Suburban Rail Loop con job, with the Premier and the government pretending to save taxpayers money by cancelling projects that were never actually funded?

 Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Public Transport, Minister for Creative Industries) (14:22): The only con job in front of us is their relationship with One Nation and their threat to rip $40 billion out of Victoria’s budget.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker: relevance.

The SPEAKER: The minister has concluded her answer.