Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Suburban Rail Loop

David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (14:21): My question is to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. Federal Labor minister Catherine King has stated that the release of $2.2 billion for the Suburban Rail Loop East is contingent on the program meeting the conditions, which include project proposal reports, which have not been received by the Victorian government. Why did the Allan Labor government sign multibillion-dollar contracts –

Juliana Addison interjected.

The SPEAKER: The member for Wendouree can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Juliana Addison interjected.

The SPEAKER: Make that an hour.

Member for Wendouree withdrew from chamber.

David SOUTHWICK: Why did the Allan Labor government sign multibillion-dollar contracts without first providing the required project proposal report to the Commonwealth?

Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:22): I am delighted to receive a question from the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party to talk about this exciting project, a project that is going to completely revolutionise and transform Melbourne. The basis of the member’s question is wrong. The PPR was provided to the Commonwealth recently, and I am really pleased that we can now get on and deliver this project, because this project will absolutely revolutionise and transform Melbourne. I was delighted to be joined by the Premier and the members for Box Hill and Glen Waverley, the Deputy Speaker, on Sunday out at Box Hill to talk about the fact that Terra Verde has been selected as the consortium to build the twin 10-kilometre tunnels from Glen Waverley to Box Hill. Why this is important is that if you look at Glen Waverley and Box Hill they are vibrant –

David Southwick: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, why did the minister sign the contracts without providing the information?

The SPEAKER: A point of order is not an opportunity to repeat the question. The question was answered at the outset.

Danny PEARSON: For the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party’s benefit, that has been provided to the Commonwealth, and we announced on Sunday that we had signed that contract with Terra Verde. Why this is important is that if you look at Box Hill and Glen Waverley – two bustling, vibrant communities – we want to produce more housing for those communities. That is why we are committing to 70,000 additional homes right along the corridor. Why is this important? It is about providing a quality build in great locations, and I am indebted to the great work of my friend the Minister for Planning in revolutionising the way in which we are transforming the way in which buildings are built here in this state, because we want to build buildings that will increase in value, that will appreciate in value. It will give young Victorians their very first start in life living in a vibrant community like Box Hill, like Burwood, like Glen Waverley, like Cheltenham.

This is all really important. Finally we are going to be able to connect a rail line to some of the largest educational precincts in the nation through the Suburban Rail Loop. Three of the busiest rail lines in Melbourne are Frankston, Cranbourne and Pakenham. They will all be serviced by the Suburban Rail Loop. This is going to be an absolute game changer for Melbourne and Victoria, and it means that we can try and make sure that we can provide more housing.

Those opposite need to get on board. They need to stop blocking – the arrogance of those opposite. This project has been overwhelmingly endorsed by the Victorian people on the last two separate occasions. We do not break promises, like those opposite. We are getting on –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is debating the question.

The SPEAKER: The minister to come back to the question.

Danny PEARSON: We are getting on and we are not wasting a day. We are committed to delivering this project, a project that –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the Leader of the Opposition on a point of order, I remind members how to raise a point of order correctly.

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the answer is supposed to be responsive. The question asked why he signed contracts before providing the material to the Commonwealth. The minister has misled the house. He did sign contracts before information was provided to the Commonwealth, so I ask you to draw him back to the question.

The SPEAKER: The minister answered the question at the beginning of his answer. He said the basis of the question was wrong. The minister is answering the question.

Danny PEARSON: Again, we are getting on and delivering this project. This project stacks up and makes sense. As to why the federal government has sought to provide $2.2 billion in funding – the single biggest infrastructure commitment that it took to the last election – it is because this project stacks up and makes sense. To those opposite, I know you are a train wreck, mate, but we are getting on and delivering this rail line.

David Southwick: On a point of order, Speaker, clearly the minister is debating the question. I ask you to bring him back to answering it.

The SPEAKER: The minister has concluded his answer.

David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (14:27): When asked by a journalist where the money for the Suburban Rail Loop is coming from, the minister said today, ‘It’s not like we’ve got to get it in the next budget or else we’re cooked.’ By what date is the money needed before the state’s finances are cooked?

Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:27): We have been very clear on this. The project will cost between $30 billion and $34.5 billion. One-third of the funding will be provided by the state, one-third through value capture and one-third through contributions from the Commonwealth. We have been very clear on this. I am really pleased that we have received $2.2 billion in funding to date from the Commonwealth. What I have said very clearly about this is that this is a multiyear, multidecade project and there will be plenty of budgets –

David Southwick: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, I ask you to bring the minister back to the question: at what date will the finances be cooked because this government clearly cannot manage money?

The SPEAKER: I ask members not to repeat the question. The minister was being relevant to the question that was asked. I cannot direct the minister how to answer the question.

Danny PEARSON: We will be working very closely with the Commonwealth, as we have done every step along the way. There will be plenty of budgets; there will be plenty of opportunities. This is a long-term project, and we are committed to it. Again, we are not going to be taking lectures from those opposite, who wasted their four years in office, did not start or finish a major project – just wasted ‍–

David Southwick: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is clearly debating the question, and I ask that you bring him back to answering the question: at what date? We just need a date.

The SPEAKER: Minister, I ask you to not attack the opposition and come back to answering the question.

Danny PEARSON: We have said very clearly that this will be funded through state government contribution, value capture and Commonwealth contribution. We said the project will be delivered by 2035. We are on track to deliver just that.