Tuesday, 14 October 2025

 Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:49): (1990) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop.

Harriet Shing: Oh, come on!

Richard WELCH: Well, I previously asked this of the Minister for Planning, and she said, ‘No, it’s for the minister for the SRL.’

Harriet Shing interjected.

Richard WELCH: Look, I am going easy on you tonight – I am going easy. The action I seek is over the unfunded and uncosted SRL, which is costing Victorians at least $34 billion. It will reshape our suburbs and disrupt the lives of tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people. The project plans to change the very nature and character of these suburbs, and my communities are constantly disappointed at a planning process that lacks transparency. In effect the way the government conducts consultation is an abuse of trust at best and corrupt at worst.

The public hearing scheduled for the SRL East precincts standing advisory committee is supposed to be a forum for the public to provide vital input into the future of their communities. In requesting to appear before this forum, many organisations had asked the SRL authority to place all tabled documents from these hearings onto the Engage Victoria or a similar website, which is what happened at the 2022 SRL East environmental effects inquiry. Tabling these documents would clearly allow for a more genuine consultative process and a more worthwhile exchange of views. However, the government, via Planning Panels Victoria, has indicated that it will not happen on this occasion. Why? Because it does not have to, which is different from saying ‘You shouldn’t’ and totally different from saying ‘We are willing to be transparent.’

Make no mistake: consultation conducted while key information is purposely withheld from interested stakeholders is a sham. Communities cannot be asked to provide feedback if they are denied relevant data and details they consider relevant. This is yet another case where the government weaponises the availability of information. In effect it is a lie by omission. It is the government acting in bad faith. There is no integrity to it, and there is no integrity to the process. It is essential that all documents presented at these public hearings, including expert advice and submissions, are made publicly accessible to ensure scrutiny and informed community engagement. The action I seek from the minister is to intervene to ensure that all tabled documents and submissions for the SRL East precincts standing advisory committee are made public and published online on an ongoing basis.