Tuesday, 16 May 2023

Transport infrastructure projects

David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (14:10): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Minister, how many Victorian transport infrastructure projects have recorded cost blowouts since the 2022–23 state budget was released in May last year?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery) (14:11): As the member knows full well, Tuesday 23 May has been set aside for some time in the parliamentary calendar to be the day that the state budget is handed down. As the member knows full well also, in-between the budget that was handed down in May of last year and this budget, there have been regular budget updates – the midyear budget update. There was a pre-election budget update that was provided as well, which provides details in a full and transparent way about the investment that we are making in transport infrastructure projects. That investment is going into projects like the West Gate Tunnel, the Metro Tunnel and the North East Link, all projects that have been long talked about but not delivered. Indeed, I remember well projects like Avalon rail, Doncaster rail and Rowville rail that were long promised by those opposite but never, ever –

David Southwick: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is not being relevant. We have asked for a number, a simple number: how many projects have blown out under the minister’s watch? How many? What is the number? Just give us that number and then you can sit down.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister was being relevant. The question related to budgets for transport infrastructure. I ask the minister to return to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: As I was saying, the state budget is being handed down on Tuesday of next week. The Treasurer will be providing the budget to the house. That will have the budget papers that, in the usual way, provide for an update on the government’s entire expenditure, and that will include the investment that we are making in our infrastructure program that is supporting tens of thousands of Victorians right now on projects around the state, where Victorians have got confidence that they have got a pay packet that they can take home because there is a transport infrastructure pipeline. Unlike those opposite, who once again just yesterday have committed to cut into this program as a consequence of the Leader of the Opposition’s –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the minister was asked for the number of projects that have blown out. I understand why the minister would be embarrassed and would not want to give the number, but that was the question.

The SPEAKER: Order! I rule the point of order out of order, and I ask the minister to return to answering the question. The minister has completed her answer.

David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (14:14): Minister, by how much has the cost of the North East Link Project blown out over the past 12 months?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Manager of Opposition Business can leave the chamber for 1 hour. The member for Bentleigh can leave the chamber for 1 hour.

Members for Brighton and Bentleigh withdrew from chamber.

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery) (14:15): Well, there goes 18–11. There he goes. Off he goes. You are down to 18 now. Your numbers man has left the building.

As I have just indicated in the substantive question, the budget will update in the usual way. The investment the Andrews Labor government is making in transport, in education, in health, in mental health, in investment in prevention of family violence –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for South-West Coast can leave the chamber for 1 hour.

Member for South-West Coast withdrew from chamber.

Jacinta ALLAN: and the budget papers will be tabled in this place next Tuesday.