Thursday, 4 December 2025

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:09): (1175) My question is for the Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop. Minister, the Department of Transport and Planning’s strategic risk summary identifies that there is a high risk that the SRLA may be ineffective in managing system integration across multiple, concurrent work packages. Given the Department of Transport and Planning think there is a high risk of system failure, what steps are you taking to manage this high risk?

 Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Housing and Building, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:10): Thanks, Mr Mulholland. It is always a pleasure to hear you inquire about Australia’s largest transport and housing infrastructure project. As you would be aware, the Suburban Rail Loop is on time and it is on budget. One of the things that I want to be really clear about is the importance of this project having been recognised by Infrastructure Australia as a priority project, recognised by the Commonwealth government and recognised by Victorians as being of fundamental importance to making sure that as we grow we can grow well. In addition to that, it is a project that can ensure that we deliver 70,000 new homes across those areas where for too long we have not seen that corresponding investment, which has been borne in large part by those outer suburban and peri-urban areas across the north and the west. We have a huge program of works underway, Mr Mulholland, as you would be aware. Metro Tunnel – I am looking forward to seeing you down in that tunnel. I know that Mr McGowan is a huge fan of the work that the Labor government has delivered.

But a risk register: let us just be really clear on the way in which risk registers operate, and your colleagues have acknowledged this. It is a live document. It is a live process which, again, undertakes, in accordance with the Financial Management Act and the reporting requirements that exist under that legislative framework, an assessment and a due diligence of risk that may be part of the framework for risk management, mitigation and governance. Proactive risk management enables us –

Evan Mulholland: On a point of order, President, I asked what steps the minister is taking to address the risk. I did not need an explanation of the risk – so relevance.

The PRESIDENT: I think the minister was being relevant.

Harriet SHING: Well, just on the point of order, you said you did not need an explanation of the risk. You actually do seem to need an explanation of the risk, because what you fail to acknowledge is that in delivering a project of this magnitude it is actually standard practice, Mr Mulholland, to identify, analyse, assess and consider a range of different types of risks in decision-making, in the planning that goes into that work and in the delivery of any complex project. If, Mr Mulholland, you are suggesting that risk should not be bottomed out as a matter which requires and responsibly demands contemplation, mitigation and practices in place to reduce its probability, that proactive risk management and mitigation is exactly the thing that is ensuring that this project is on time and on budget. So, Mr Mulholland, it is a direct consequence of understanding and bottoming out through a due diligence process that risk that we have a project which is on time and on budget. As much as it sticks in your craw, this is a project which will deliver fundamental improvements not just to this generation, not just to our kids, but to their kids, Mr Mulholland. It will enable a city to grow in the way that it needs to, a city to grow in a way that contemplates and manages that growth. That growth is in and of itself a risk, and this is where to do nothing, Mr Mulholland, is a risk which again demands a response. This is where your response to that is to cut it, to pause it and to sack workers. Our response is to get on and to build it.

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:13): Minister, the strategic risk summary also states that there is a high risk the SRLA and its main works package delivery partners are unable to effectively meet delivery objectives and requirements operating under the collaborative arrangements. Does the minister retain full confidence in the Suburban Rail Loop Authority’s ability to successfully deliver this project given the Department of Transport and Planning believes there is a high risk of failure?

 Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Housing and Building, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:14): Yes.