Thursday, 15 August 2024

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (01:54): (1064) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, and I seek the action of the minister to provide an update on the duplication of Donnybrook Road. We have seen it noted by the member for Yan Yean that early planning works are underway for the duplication of Donnybrook Road, so I seek the action of the minister to provide my constituents with some detail on this. Is there any funding for it, or are they putting all their eggs in one basket for the $216 billion Suburban Rail Loop? Over 2000 locals have signed a petition to duplicate Donnybrook Road and are being neglected because Labor are putting all of their eggs in one basket. The member for Yan Yean should take note of petitions. Almost 11,000 people signed a recent petition of mine on the Lord’s Prayer, hundreds of whom were from the Yan Yean electorate. I was shocked to hear the member for –

Members interjecting.

Melina Bath: On a point of order, President, it is 2 o’clock in the morning, and I cannot hear the adjournment being debated. Everyone has the right to be able to make their adjournment without people interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: I uphold the point of order, and I also uphold that it is 2 in the morning.

Evan MULHOLLAND: The member for Yan Yean should take note of petitions. Almost 11,000 people signed my recent petition on the Lord’s Prayer, hundreds of whom were from the Yan Yean electorate. I was shocked to hear the member for Yan Yean this morning mocking faith communities that came into Parliament, including some that live in her electorate. I was also shocked to hear her claim that that petition was fake and it was not an actual thing that the government was doing when in fact it was an election commitment of the government, a Labor government, to get rid of the prayer. In fact many of her own colleagues were supporting me and encouraging me along so they could force the government to change their commitment. The member for Yan Yean should consider other issues that are important to people in the Yan Yean electorate, like the fact that she was completely silent on the Labor-led committee that recommended a ban on duck hunting. 2600 people in the Yan Yean electorate are licensed duck hunters. That is almost double the margin in the seat of Yan Yean. She will be gone at the next election. Last November the ABC reported that MRPV had said early planning had begun on Donnybrook Road and:

I’m confident … next year we’ll be looking at what we can do with the future improvements of Donnybrook Road.

Given it has been almost a year since that report, what progress has been made?