Wednesday, 19 February 2025

 David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (09:53): The $3 billion third runway at Melbourne Airport has been given the go-ahead by the federal government and is expected to be completed by 2031. From the media releases you would think it was the best thing to ever happen to this state: it is set to boost Victoria’s economy by some $6 billion each year, it will increase passenger numbers and freight capacity and it will create tens of thousands of jobs. Putting aside a large grain of salt, if the airport’s capacity is going to be increased, the government needs to prioritise the equally critical and long-promised Melbourne Airport rail. Seventy per cent of the workers at Melbourne Airport travel in from the western suburbs, and they have no dependable public transport to get them to work. The airport rail project will provide a cost- and time-efficient and sustainable public transport alternative to the infrequent and unreliable buses that often take hours. It will also provide massive cost-of-living relief to workers who are forced to rely on expensive private transport, pay Ned Kelly inspired parking charges at the airport and traverse the already hopelessly congested CityLink tollway. People of the west are tired of being left behind and taken for granted. If the government is listening to the people of the west, as advertised, then it must prioritise the development of the airport rail link, starting with an immediate and comprehensive upgrade to the Sunshine station.