Northern Victoria Region
Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (12:22): (1822) My constituency question is to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure on behalf of the Border Rail Action Group. The Rail Futures Institute recently reported that the failure to reinstate the former standard gauge platform as part of the forthcoming Sunshine station redevelopment will seriously disadvantage north-east Victorian and Riverina travellers. Many country people rely on trains to bring them to the city for essential medical services. Inability for regional passengers to access Metro 1 from the Sunshine station will effectively cut off access to the new Parkville station and the many major hospitals nearby, including the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Children’s Hospital. This will create unnecessary indirect travel and multiple changes for people seeking medical attention, young people with disabilities, elderly people and parents with young children. So my question is to the minister: will the government commit to reinstating the former standard gauge platform at Sunshine station for better access to services for regional passengers, especially north-east Victorians who need to visit vital medical facilities?