Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to support this motion on investment in infrastructure and am greatly concerned about this 90-day review, which has now blown out to 169 days and counting. I heard the previous speaker talk about Labor's commitments. One of the projects the former Liberal government committed to back in 2019 was Wellington Road—$110 million. Well, I've got a media release here dated 3 May 2019 from the member for Maribyrnong, and there was also an unsealed roads project we committed $300 million for, matched by Labor, yet they've walked away from it. That hasn't even hit this review, quite sadly. That's already been cancelled.

What is not under review, though, is the state Labor government's massive rail loop, which could cost up to $200 billion. That is not included. You'd think that would be the first project to be included. They've also put a pause on the Airport Rail Link, a $10 billion project.

Then I come to my own electorate of La Trobe. La Trobe is one of the fastest-growing growth corridors in the country. I'll talk about Clyde Road in Berwick, as well as McGregor Road and Racecourse Road in Pakenham. Again, in 2019, after these three roads were committed by the former Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, Labor came out and matched those projects. So, to say that the Labor Party will honour projects that they have previously committed to is completely false.

Clyde Road goes through La Trobe as well as through Bruce and Holt, two Labor held seats. Initially the project cost that we announced in 2019 was $50 million. Now, we didn't come up with that figure. That was actually Casey Council, one of the largest councils. They built massive projects, such as the Bryn Mawr bridge. It was their cost of $50 million. Then we were told by the state Labor government that it blew out to $250 million. So, again, in the 2021 budget we committed to that funding. For the Labor Party and the transport minister to say that projects are unfunded—we put extra funding into this one. Now, it's a ridiculous cost, considering that this road is probably only a duplication one kilometre long on Clyde Road, from the grade separation of the train line down to just over the Monash Freeway—for $250 million. But, importantly, it included Kangan Drive upgrades for turning lanes left and right from Kangan Drive onto Clyde Road.

This is really important for the local hospitals. We have the nurses there, and the Labor Party talks about the great work that the nurses have done. Well, the nurses, the medical staff and the patients of Casey Hospital and St John of God Hospital every day get stuck at that horrible intersection. So, that is one project that Labor must commit to and deliver. In actual fact, $41 million has already been cut out of the last budget. Original funding for the Pakenham road projects—both Racecourse Road and McGregor Roads—was $70 million, back in 2019. Again, this is funding proposed by Cardinia Shire Council—we on the Liberal side of government didn't just make up these figures. Under the state Labor government it has, amazingly, blown out to $392 million, and will duplicate Racecourse Road between the freeway and Henry Street, widen McGregor Road between the freeway and Webster Way, and signalise the intersection of Bald Hill Road. The freeway interchanges with both roads will be upgraded and new on- and off-ramps installed.

All these three projects I've mentioned had the support of the state Labor member out there, and even former premier Dan Andrews. I think it was the current Premier who actually wrote to him in support of these projects. So, number one: the Albanese government say that these projects haven't got state government support—they have. Number two: when they say they have not been fully funded, that's rubbish because extra funding was put into this. For the residents in Pakenham, on this occasion, who have put up with such poor roads—and it's such a huge growth corridor—it's so disappointing and disgraceful that the road funding is now paused and potentially may not go ahead. Stage 1 will go ahead, but not stages 2 and 3. It's a disgrace.

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