Tuesday, 15 October 2019

 Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (13:00): My constituency question is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, and it concerns the leaked business case for the Shepparton rail corridor upgrade. The leaked cabinet-in-confidence document shows that there is a massive $282.5 million unbudgeted black hole in the upgrade project, proving that the minister and the member for Shepparton have been misleading the Shepparton electorate with their statements that budget allocations in the 2018–19 budget will deliver nine daily return services between Shepparton and Melbourne by 2021. The business case clearly states on page 9 that there is a further $282.5 million required before the promised nine services a day can be delivered. With a $282.5 million black hole in the funding of the Shepparton rail corridor upgrade now exposed, will the minister ensure this funding is provided in the December budget update in order to deliver the nine daily return services to Melbourne that she has promised to the Shepparton community?