Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will just point out to the member for Deakin that he misled people when he said that Bill Shorten, the Leader of the Opposition, has supported the East-West Link. What he failed—

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

It was—

Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And listen—this is the bit you do not do! Bill Shorten, as AWU leader, and as MP—

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

Have you read them? You haven't read them, have you?

Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They are different projects! The Eddington project is different to the one that you guys lied to the community about!

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Mr Sukkar interjecting—

Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Dan Andrews, as premier, is doing something that this Liberal government does not do. Dan Andrews is sticking to his promises, while this lot over there break their promises every day of the week!

Mr Sukkar interjecting—

You can hear the carry on over there!

Let us remember the shonky, shifty side deal that was done to bypass the courts by the Liberal government in Victoria. Speaking of Dan Andrews, let us talk about the hard work he is doing of getting on with the job of delivering to growth communities. The temporary member for Deakin laughs, but we have got to remember that in the seat of McEwen—

Mr Sukkar interjecting—

You will not be here next election, mate.

Mr Sukkar interjecting—

That is right. You spent $850,000 and you lost. There is a good reason why you are gone.

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please do not have this interaction across the chamber.

Mr Sukkar interjecting—

Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would disagree with that. The temporary member for Deakin—

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! You will refer to the member by his title, please.

Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I did refer to him as the member for Deakin. I specifically said the member for Deakin. In 2014 we saw approximately 6,000 residents move into the area around Mernda and Doreen. It is a massive population migration from metropolitan Melbourne.

As we know, the growth of the Mernda and Doreen area has been continuing since its explosion nearly a decade ago. Initially they were well designed suburbs with three primary schools. There was also a town centre plan which was approved in 2007 and was to include community centres, libraries and many more facilities. Unfortunately, for the last four years has been a complete stop on any of the much needed infrastructure in our community. The fault lies solely on the shoulders of the former Liberal government. During their four years, not one cent of road spending was put into an area which has seen some 20,000 residents move in. Their ineptitude and inaction has left have left residents in Mernda in despair. Sadly, there are many families contemplating moving away because of the inaction of the Bailleau-Napthine failure.

As a result of the failure of the Bailleau-Napthine shambolic term in office, there is a backload of projects that are needed urgently. For instance, there is no secondary school or police station in the area and extremely limited transport options. There are not many recreation facilities throughout the community and we do not even have a town square. Luckily the Andrews government has swung into action and help is on its way. Last month, Daniel Andrews announced the fast tracking of the Mernda Central p-12 school. Construction is due to commence at the end of the year and will open in the 2017 school year. It is going to make a huge difference to the lives of people in Mernda.

There is also the issue of the NBN. Labor's NBN plan, rolled out through Mernda and Doreen, was chugging along nicely until the Abbott government was elected and scrapped it. Many residents now live in areas where you can get NBN on one side of the street but not on the other because the now government tore up the plan and is delivering a second-class service to the people of Mernda and Doreen and in many other areas.

In the City of Whittlesea, the local council went out and invested time and money to put pipes into the ground ready for the rollout. But because the Abbott government has stopped the rollout of NBN, the council is now out there seeking an ISP to actually fill in and take up the charge because this government here in Canberra has ripped up NBN and at best is offering a second-class service. Even last week we saw the Minister for Communications finally admit that another promise was broken. They cannot and will not deliver the service that they promised the people of Victoria at the last election. They cannot do it and they are not going to do it.

Each and every day in this shambolic chaos of a government, we see backflip after backflip. There is not a promise they have taken to the last federal election that they have not broken. It is a sign of concern to residents of Mernda and Doreen, who want to get access to broadband for education, the business and for entertainment. They know that under this government it will not happen.