Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to talk about the opening on Sunday of the Regional Rail Link in Victoria, a magnificent piece of infrastructure, a magnificent piece of investment in our state. I am glad to say that the Deputy Prime Minister turned up to open something he voted against in the parliament. Indeed, the Regional Rail Link is the biggest Commonwealth infrastructure investment in Australian history—$3.225 billion. Labor MPs were there and the poor, lonely Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, was there to open it. But of course we will not see one more cent spent on infrastructure and rail in this country as far as this government is concerned.

We have a Prime Minister who likes to describe himself as 'the infrastructure Prime Minister'. But, of course, by failing to continue to invest in the Regional Rail Link, this government has failed not only Victorians but citizens around this country in relation to regional rail. On this side of the House, we will always invest in regional rail, in metro rail and in public transport because that is what is needed for this nation. The infrastructure Prime Minister, so-called, should start rethinking his position on this investment. It is vital for this country's future. (Time expired)