Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to draw to the attention of the House the announcement by the Victorian Labor opposition of its intention to rip up contracts to build the East West Link should it win the state election. We know that the federal Labor Party opposes the East West Link and now state Labor has followed suit. Again, it demonstrates that Labor is only focused on shoring up a few inner-city seats against the Greens and not on what is good for Deakin residents in outer suburban areas like Ringwood, Croydon, Heathmont and Nunawading, just to name a few. In contrast, the federal coalition government has pledged $3 billion of funding for this project, highlighting our commitment to the East West Link. This project is also enthusiastically supported by the broader Deakin community including the Ringwood Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which provided unequivocal support for construction of the East West Link when it issued the following statement last week: 'The construction of the East West Link should proceed and at the earliest possible point.'

The East West Link is a vital piece of nation-building infrastructure for Victoria which will create 6,200 jobs and boost productivity. For Deakin residents it will take pressure off families by reducing traffic congestion and travel times, meaning more time at home with their families rather than sitting in traffic on the Eastern Freeway. Unlike Labor, I will continue to fight for the interests of the Deakin electorate and everyone in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne to make the East West Link a reality for our great state.