Thursday, 2 May 2024

Suburban Rail Loop

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:28): (515) My question is to Minister Tierney, the Minister for Skills and TAFE. I refer to Monash University’s submission to the Suburban Rail Loop environment effects statement, which says:

The proposed alignment includes cross tunnel passages underneath several campus buildings including, most notably, directly under the Menzies Building –

A member: It’s the Ming wing, David.

David DAVIS: That is correct –

the University’s founding and tallest building. The information provided in the EES gives no assurances that the structural condition and integrity of campus buildings will not be affected by tunnelling and cross passage construction.

I ask therefore: can the minister assure the chamber that the tallest building at Monash University, the Ming wing, will not be damaged by Labor’s Suburban Rail Loop?

The PRESIDENT: Order! I do believe that that should have been directed to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure.

David DAVIS: The minister is responsible for the Monash University Act 2009, according to the administrative orders. That university has put a submission in and expressed concern about the safety of its structure. The minister actually can take an interest in the structures at those universities and the future of them.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis, I will give you an opportunity to rephrase, if you like, if you could get somewhere near the skills and training minister’s responsibility. But at the moment I am not prepared to put that question.

David DAVIS: Minister, as the minister responsible for the Monash University Act under the administrative orders, will you ask questions about the proposed Suburban Rail Loop and the Monash submission to that EES process?

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:31): I am not the planning minister and I am not the minister for transport, but what I can say to you, Mr Davis, is that I am interested in transport issues as they enable students and staff to access university campuses as well as TAFE campuses.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:31): I ask: will the minister make representations on behalf of the university, which she is responsible under the administrative orders for, that seek to guarantee that the tunnel will be constructed in the least impactful way and the alignment to protect the towers at Monash?

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:32): As I said in the answer to the substantive, I am interested in transport issues as they pertain to students and academics and other support staff who are attempting to access their campus, whether it be a university or a TAFE. Of course I am also interested in safety issues that may be associated in terms of individuals. I will continue to advocate on these issues, as I do with all things connected to the delivery of skills and training, and the issues around property at universities and indeed appointments at universities.