Thursday, 29 August 2024

Suburban Rail Loop

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:12): My question is to the Premier. On Tuesday the Premier said that:

Our government has committed to the Victorian community at two elections to deliver the Suburban Rail Loop East by 2035, and we are on track to deliver on that commitment.

Given that lawyers have now been hired to potentially change or cancel Suburban Rail Loop East, why has the Premier misled this house and the Victorian people?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:13): In answer to the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I did not, and in answer to the first part of his question, he is incorrect.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:13): How much has been spent on Suburban Rail Loop East to date?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:13): I direct the Leader of the Opposition to budget paper 4, which was released in this house just a couple of months ago. The budget is updated in the usual way.

John Pesutto: On a point of order on relevance, Speaker, I asked the question on behalf of the opposition because the costs we are seeking to ascertain were buried behind the acronym TBC and in the contingency fund.

The SPEAKER: That is not the way to raise a point of order. The Premier has concluded her answer.