Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

The ARTC is already delivering improvements to the line to improve the ride for commuters. This is yet another investment to help people get home sooner and safer. Ultimately it will be upgrades to rolling stock, which is the responsibility of the Victorian government—to which they are committed—that will deliver the services that the people of Seymour, Euroa, Violet Town, Benalla, Wangaratta and Wodonga deserve.

Of course this is a key passenger trunk route as well as a corridor of commerce. It's a key part of the inland freight rail from Melbourne to Brisbane, which will bring more than $7 billion of economic development and prosperity to Victoria and more than 16,000 jobs in the construction phase alone. Our $9.3 billion commitment to the Inland Rail is delivering that nation-building infrastructure that I know the member for Indi's people will benefit from, as will the entire nation. (Time expired)

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