Tuesday, 2 December 2025

 Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (14:12): The member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage got very excited about the opening of the Metro Tunnel and posted on social media a picture of herself jumping for joy outside the Town Hall station. But this rail service does not even run through her electorate. Her constituents in the northern growth suburbs of Melbourne who saw the post must be wondering why the member for Yan Yean has not shown the same interest in rail projects in her own district. Residents in Donnybrook, Wollert, Beveridge and Wallan are all desperate for better train transport, but the local member has failed to secure any significant improvements –

Michael Galea: On a point of order, President, I think the member has the responsibility to be factual. It is quite well known that the Sunbury line going into the Metro Tunnel means more capacity for the Craigieburn and Upfield lines in the north.

The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order.

Evan Mulholland: On the point of order, President, the member should be aware the government cut the train turnback at Essendon, which would have freed up capacity on the Craigieburn line at Donnybrook.

The PRESIDENT: The member can make any statement –

Wendy LOVELL: On the point of order, President, the member opposite should be aware that the Sunbury line does not go to Yan Yean.

The PRESIDENT: I think we have all learned something. I call Ms Lovell to continue.

Wendy LOVELL: The Metro Tunnel project suffered a $5 billion blowout, taking the total cost to over $14 billion to build just 9 extra kilometres of rail line. But there is no money for the northern rail projects. Labor went over budget by $5 billion for five metro stations but will not commit the funds to build a new station for Beveridge, where the Minister for Planning has approved homes for 50,000 people. Labor has approved thousands of new homes in Donnybrook, massively boosting demand for the train, but it still has not built a footpath for pedestrians, who have to walk in the mud to get to Donnybrook train station. Labor has refused for years to chip in a mere $250,000 for the Wollert rail feasibility study, pushing back the start of that vital project by at least three years. Labor hid the North West Strategic Assessment report, because it revealed an urgent need to begin detailed development to extend the Upfield line to Wollert, and Labor has not started planning – (Time expired)