Thursday, 20 November 2025

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:31): My question is to the Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop. I refer to the Suburban Rail Loop Authority CEO’s $54,000 international trip in March of 2022, of which $11,000 in expenses were classified as ‘Other’. Will the minister commit to publishing these expenses in full?

 Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Housing and Building, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:31): Thank you, Mr Mulholland, for that question and for your interest in the work that the Suburban Rail Loop Authority does. As Australia’s largest housing and transport infrastructure project it is really important not only that we are able to deliver good value for money for this project that is on time and on budget but that we are also able to make sure that we are delivering a project which either meets or exceeds the threshold for comparable projects internationally. This is where again, when we look to projects such as the Paris rail work, the work on the Elizabeth line and the work that is happening elsewhere around the world, we know that large-scale tunnelling works make a difference to the way in which they are executed when they are executed. Now, Mr Mulholland, as I would hope that you would understand and appreciate, matters associated with expenditure are reported in the usual way.

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:33): The minister did not go near answering that question. Minister, SRL executives spent more than $330,000 on international travel. At the same time, Victorians are struggling with the cost of living and are being slugged with 60 new or increased taxes under this government. Why has it been continued government policy for taxpayers to foot the bill for this luxury international travel?

 Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Housing and Building, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:33): Thanks, Mr Mulholland. With your preamble, I just want to correct perhaps a couple of the presuppositions in it. We have actually cut or removed more than 65 taxes – probably pretty important to think about incorporating into your narrative. I also want to make it really clear, Mr Mulholland, it is not a feature unique to this government – in fact as I recall it was a feature of the last time that the coalition was in government – again, that travel is a part of the work that is undertaken, whether that is business, investment or development through the Victorian government business offices around global trading partners. Mr McGowan is nodding because he understands the importance of international trade and international business development; in fact it is a key part of the economic prosperity and growth here in the state, which despite the fact you want to talk it down, is happening inevitably because of the investment that we are putting in. Now, Mr McGowan, one of the things that we do is make sure that people are in a position to be able to participate in that travel, and that obviously requires expenditure in accordance with the usual processes.