Wednesday, 21 September 2022

Ministers statements: rail network

Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery) (14:39): For the past eight years the Andrews government has been doing what matters when it comes to delivering road and rail projects that Victorians have come to rely on, and they have also come to know that it is only the Andrews Labor government that will continue this work and continue to support jobs in this area. Just this morning there was another great example of this. We released further details on Melbourne’s airport rail line. It will be a new train line for Melbourne’s west that will include a brand new station at Keilor East, or East Keilor, which the member for Niddrie is very pleased about. This is a project that has been talked about for decades, and cities around the world—

Mr Andrews: It’s been announced a few times too.

Ms ALLAN: I will get to that. Cities around the world have a train line to the airport, and now Victorians will too. While those opposite said they would deliver an airport rail, they did not. But hang on a minute, they did do something: they produced those fake train tickets. Well, we are building the real thing and supporting the 8000 workers who will be working on this project—and their families.

Some people say that rail lines are nice to have. I say to the Leader of the Opposition and his Liberal-Nationals colleagues that for the families who rely on those pay packets and the Victorians who rely on those train lines to get to work, to get to school and, yes, to get to medical appointments, they are a must-have. In regional Victoria we know very well that rail lines are also more than a nice-to-have, they are a must-have. They were particularly a precious thing when the Liberal Party and the National Party were shutting down country train lines.

I have had the opportunity to work with all my regional colleagues, and a few over there as well, as we go about upgrading and rebuilding our regional network on every single regional passenger line. It is only the Andrews Labor government that will continue this investment and support these jobs.

The SPEAKER: Order! That was the last question time for the 59th Parliament. Thank you, members.

Mr Wells: On a point of order, Speaker, I have some unanswered questions—6370, 6450, 6480—about delays at Monash hospital, hospital parking fees and a lack of funding for the schools in Rowville.

Ms Kealy: I would like to raise a point of order, Speaker, regarding overdue questions on notice—

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Members, there is too much noise in the chamber.

Ms Kealy: which have not been answered within the required time frame. Question 6071 to health was due in November last year; question 6183, again to health; 6478 to transport infrastructure; 6488 to education; and 6528 regarding education also. I would appreciate you following these up given it is the last sitting day today.

The SPEAKER: Those matters will be followed up.

Mr McCurdy: On a point of order, Speaker. I also have three questions that need following up: 6669, 6398 and 6394. Some of these go back to earlier in the year, and I would appreciate them being followed up.

Ms Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, to the Minister for Housing, this is the fourth time that I have raised this point of order about housing affordability, accessibility and homelessness in the Yarra Ranges, adjournment 6388—also, to the Minister for Mental Health, to provide funding for the Lilydale Youth Hub because the Labor government’s funding is running out, adjournment 6458; and to the Minister for Education, to support upgrades at Yarra Hills Secondary College, adjournment 6492.