Thursday, 3 August 2023

Ballarat train station

Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (12:09): (219) My question is to the Minister for Regional Development. As reported in the Ballarat Courier on 17 July, Labor member for Wendouree Juliana Addison apologised to disability advocates for the lack of progress on the $50 million upgrade to the Ballarat train station. These were key promises as part of the Commonwealth Games legacy package. Ms Addison said that the station’s existing set-up made people feel like ‘second-class citizens’. Does the government also apologise or are Ms Addison’s comments out of step with the government’s position?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Equality) (12:10): Thank you, Mr McCracken. I want to begin by acknowledging the tenacious advocacy of Ms Addison in the other place. The work that she does for and with and on behalf of the community that she represents is extraordinary. It is something that makes an enormously positive contribution to this place, and in response to a number of invitations from her I have met with disability and carers groups, who have been really clear about the importance of access and inclusion as we build and develop and enhance and improve those facilities across Ballarat and indeed more broadly across regional Victoria.

We have promised – and this is part of a separate allocation from the budget, as you would be well aware, Mr McCracken – that $50 million upgrade to the railway station. This includes a pedestrian overpass and improved access with those two passenger lifts. We do want to make sure that people can access improved and upgraded infrastructure. This is something which sits alongside the work of the infrastructure minister, so I am not for a second seeking to hive that off to the Deputy Premier in her role in that portfolio.

What I will do is address the second part of your question perhaps, which went to the delivery of other infrastructure, if you are amenable to that. And I am always happy, Mr McCracken, to provide you with information and updates around the progress of that work. The legacy work that is part of making sure that we deliver $550 million in permanent sports infrastructure around Victoria includes obviously that upgrade to Eureka Stadium, with 5000 additional permanent seats. This is about making sure that we can continue to deliver world-class events to that location, and that also includes greater levels of accessibility and –

Joe McCracken: On a point of order, President, with the greatest of respect, my question was: does the government apologise or are Ms Addison’s comments contrary to the government’s position?

The PRESIDENT: The reason I paused before I put the question was: is the question whether the government has a policy or a position on an MP’s apology? Does the government have a position on an MP’s apology? I will let the minister continue and to answer as she sees fit.

Harriet SHING: By reference to the comments that I have just made, Mr McCracken, the work that we are doing really does include, at every step of the way, leaning into the challenges around accessibility and making sure that they are part and parcel of the works that we deliver across the board. There are a range of considerations in the way in which we deliver those projects, and they include –

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, I understand the minister is trying to spruik what she is trying to get out of with the Commonwealth Games debacle that the government has put Victoria in, but the question was very specific from Mr McCracken. He spoke about what Ms Addison has actually said to those people, and the question to the minister is: does the government also apologise or are Ms Addison’s comments contrary to government policy? It is asking the minister around that aspect, not the –

Members interjecting.

Georgie Crozier: No, not what you are trying to get out of in terms of what this question specifically goes to. Do you apologise, or – it is very clear.

The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Ms Crozier. I am not discounting your point of order, Ms Crozier. I struggle with the way the question was framed. Also, as far as being relevant to the question goes, I listened to the minister give quite a comprehensive overview of the plans for this particular station in the preamble. At the end of question time, if members think the minister has not answered the question they have the right to call a point of order for me to consider. But at this point I think the minister is being relevant.

Harriet SHING: Thank you very much, President. Again, with the time that I have remaining, I just want to point out that this is not a project that is being funded through RDV. This has a separate line item in the budget. It does not relate to the work under DJSIR. It is a $50 million investment that involves working alongside heritage, as you would be aware. We will continue to do that work, and we will do that alongside the tenacious advocacy that Ms Addison and others are applying to this particular project. It is a separate line item, though, Mr McCracken.

Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (12:16): As part of her apology, Ms Addison said that the delay in disability access as part of the project at the Ballarat station was ‘not acceptable’. Given the government has now cancelled the Commonwealth Games, what actions has the minister taken to ensure that these long-awaited upgrades will actually be delivered on time and on budget?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Equality) (12:16): Thank you, Mr McCracken, for that supplementary. Again, I just want to be really clear: this is a $50 million upgrade that has already been allocated as part of a separate line item in the 2022–23 budget. This is work that is continuing as part of upgrading that heritage station, as you well know. This is not an RDV project, and again you are linking this in with the Commonwealth Games and with the legacy. Inclusion is a really big part of the work of legacy; it is a big part of the $2 billion fund. But to be really clear, Mr McCracken, this is a $50 million project that sits very much outside the work that Regional Development Victoria is doing. Inclusion and accessibility are at the heart of so many of the things that we do. It amounts to record investment in funding. It amounts to very careful planning to make sure that accessibility continues to be met across a range of challenges that evolve over time. I am really happy to continue to update you, Mr McCracken.