Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Eastern Victoria Region

Ms BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:30): (1638) My question is to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and it relates to the Great Alpine Road. One of my constituents lives at the top, near Omeo, and another one travels up and down the road for work. They are both so very frustrated about the perilous state of our roads and in particular the Great Alpine Road. Potholes are fixed and then fail so, so frequently. They are also concerned about the poor communication on social media. They want to actually see time lines and understand that the roads will be fixed and not just see, as one said, ‘fluffy messages’. They also want to comment on the concerns around Name Stone Point, which was fixed last year but has failed and slipped again. There are works being done there, but they want to know that it is being done properly, that people can pass through that area safely, that it will not fail again and that the engineering is such that it is secure for the foreseeable future. The question I have on behalf of Mr Aronson and Mr Akeroyd is: will you fix those road surfaces properly, and will you provide a time line for Name Stone Point to the public?

Mr Ondarchie: On a point of order, President, in relation to standing order 8.08(4), which requires ministers to respond within 14 days to the Clerk, I have a number of outstanding matters: a question that was asked of the Minister for Roads and Road Safety on 17 December 2021, 81 days ago; of the Minister for Transport Infrastructure on 14 December, 84 days ago; and of the Minister for Health on 22 June 2021, 259 days ago. I asked about this very matter last sitting week, and I still do not have any responses. It seems to me the Andrews Labor government lack transparency, avoid accountability or simply cannot recall.

The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, Mr Ondarchie, you know there is nothing I can do within my power.

Now, going to the constituency question that was raised by Ms Maxwell, I have gone through the question. I know she is raising it on behalf of a former member but one who is still a constituent and I know that it is in her electorate, so the question is in order.