Tuesday, 20 September 2022

Ministers statements: level crossing removals

Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery) (14:32): I am so pleased today to inform the house that the Andrews Labor government is removing another eight dangerous and congested level crossings on the Upfield line, making Brunswick boom gate free. As this house knows, it is only the Andrews Labor government that says it will remove level crossings and then delivers on it.

I know the house appreciates history. Let us go back and have a bit of a history lesson. In 2014 the Andrews Labor government promised to remove 50 dangerous and congested level crossings by 2022. We are now at 66 that have been removed and are on track to remove 85 by 2025. But not only that, where we have had the opportunity to do more, we have grabbed it. That is why, along with those 66 level crossing removals, there are 37 brand new stations, there are 50 kilometres of cycling and walking paths and there are 20 MCGs of open space that have been created in communities across Melbourne.

We know that history is important—and accurate history is important—in this house. The members for Pascoe Vale and Broadmeadows know that it is the Andrews Labor government that will remove in total 13 level crossings on the Upfield line. The members for Bentleigh, Mordialloc, Carrum and Frankston know that when those opposite had the chance to remove level crossings on the Frankston line, they removed none—zero. We have removed 16, and there are another four to go.

The members for Oakleigh, Narre Warren North, Narre Warren South, Dandenong, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Bass know that when we say we will remove every level crossing on the Pakenham and Cranbourne line, we will do it. We will keep on with this program of removing dangerous and congested level crossings. We do not make up history; we make it. We are getting on and making lines level crossing free, and we are doing what matters for communities across the state.

Mr Rowswell: On a point of order, Speaker, I have a number of questions that have not been responded to by ministers. Those numbers are 6331, 6114, 4602 and 5753. Question 5753 was to the Attorney-General and asked about the impact of Victorian Labor’s underfunding of IBAC and other integrity agencies. That was asked in March last year, and it still has not been responded to. If you could follow up on my behalf, I would be grateful.

The SPEAKER: I will ensure that those matters are followed up.