Thursday, 30 November 2023

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Melbourne Airport rail link

David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (12:00): (382) My question is to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure in the other place. The recent federal government strategic review of the infrastructure investment program showed the federal government’s commitment to partnering with Victoria to build the Melbourne Airport rail link. This is good news for the people of the western suburbs. It will certainly result in improved public transport connections in the west as vital transport infrastructure projects such as the redevelopment of Sunshine station are linked to the airport link. So my question to the minister is: will the Allan government commit to funding the development of the Melbourne Airport rail link?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:00): Thank you, Mr Ettershank, for that question, and I will seek an answer from the minister in the other place in accordance with the standing orders.

David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (12:01): I thank Ms Shing for her response on behalf of the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. The Melbourne Airport rail project is effectively linked to a range of key transport infrastructure in the west, including the Sunshine station precinct and Albion station redevelopments. By way of supplementary, if the Allan government will not or cannot commit to the airport rail link, will it commit to funding promised critical upgrades to projects such as those at Albion and Sunshine stations?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:01): Thank you, Mr Ettershank, for that supplementary. Again I will seek an answer for you in accordance with the standing orders.