Wednesday, 23 September 2026

 Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:23): My question is to the Premier. When asked about Victoria’s potholes, the Premier said, ‘I’m the Premier, not the roads minister.’ When he was roads minister, why did he cut road maintenance funding by nearly $200 million in a single year?

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Premier) (14:24): It is a bit rich from the Leader of the Nationals when his party stood quiet when Jeff Kennett privatised road maintenance.

 Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:24): The Premier now says he takes ‘full responsibility’ for the state of Victoria’s roads and that integrity is no longer optional. If that is true, will he admit that the roads are in such poor condition because of his own cuts?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Public Transport is warned.

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Premier) (14:24): I have always been very clear about this: that we need to be better. That is why I have delayed three level crossings, made significant savings on the SRL and am putting all that into roads. We are delivering on 500,000 potholes to be fixed. We are not out there with spray paint and having selfies with them. We are not out there admiring them; we are fixing them.

Danny O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, on the question of relevance, the question went directly to the Premier’s former cuts as roads minister, and I ask you to bring him back to that.

The SPEAKER: I cannot direct the Premier how to answer the question. He was being relevant. The Premier has concluded his answer.

Annabelle Cleeland interjected.

The SPEAKER: The member for Euroa is warned.