Wednesday, 13 May 2026

 Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (12:55): (2328) Progress on the duplication of the Western Highway between Buangor and Ararat has stalled. Locals are crying out for a solution that actually reflects easements, responds to the natural landscapes and contours of land and provides value for taxpayer money. I note with some interest that this project is being run by the Big Build. Will we see more corruption on worksites? Will we see strippers? Going on the past record of this government and their refusal to hold a royal commission, who knows what we will see? My question is to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and it is simple: will you meaningfully engage with locals so they can have input into the design and the footprint of this project?