Tuesday, 3 March 2026

 Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (13:00): My question is to the Minister for Public and Active Transport. Central Goldfields shire has called for an extra three train services along the Maryborough line. There are currently only two services a day. Mayor Cr Ben Green has said this will help those most disadvantaged to access key services in Ballarat and Melbourne, but it is also going to help tourism, small business and the local economy. I compare this fairly minor ask in the great scheme of things to what is being spent in Melbourne – billions on the Suburban Rail Loop, billions on the West Gate Tunnel – and yet country Victoria always seems to get short-changed. So my question to the minister is this: will the minister commit to supporting the Central Goldfields shire’s request for an extra three services a day? Or will they continually be ignored and, by extension, will the people of Maryborough and district be ignored as well?