Wednesday, 9 September 2026

 Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:02): My question is to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. The Auditor-General shows $487 million in additional road maintenance funding this year, including the $352 million recently announced, before funding drops to just $225 million next year, a 73 per cent cut. Why is the government attempting to hoodwink Victorians with an election year road splurge before slashing funding once they have voted?

 Paul HAMER (Box Hill – Minister for Roads and Road Safety) (14:03): I thank the Leader of the Nationals. The only cuts are the $40 billion in cuts that the Liberals and Nationals are going to implement.

 Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:03): The minister says fixing Victoria’s roads is a priority. Why should Victorians believe him when the Auditor-General has revealed his commitment vanishes immediately after the election?

 Paul HAMER (Box Hill – Minister for Roads and Road Safety) (14:04): I thank the Leader of the Nationals for his supplementary question. The proof is in the pudding that we are investing actually $352 million –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: I could not hear the minister for roads’ response. It is going to be very hard for me to take a point of order on what I could not hear.

James Newbury: However, I could hear it. On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is required to be factual. I table, to assist, the VAGO report proving the cut.

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.

Paul HAMER: We are investing another $352 million this financial year to double the amount of potholes that we are going to fix and double the length of road that we are going to repair. That is double the amount of potholes that the Liberal–Nationals have promised in any one given year.

Members interjecting.

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

Member for Laverton withdrew from chamber.

Danny O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is debating the question, which relates specifically to the cut post election.

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. The minister has concluded his answer.