Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the progress—or, sadly, the lack of progress—of the Monash Freeway. Back in April 2016, Prime Minister Turnbull came up with a $1 billion plan to fix the Monash Freeway. That included $500 million of federal funding but also required state Labor to commit $500 million. So far, we have seen only stage 1 work being undertaken between the Clyde Road and the South Gippsland Highway. There is now $500 million of federal funding which has not been spent and is now in Labor coffers in Victoria. In the recent state budget, they have only committed $2.5 million for a business plan.

It is a disgrace that work has not started on the Beaconsfield exchange. It is a disgrace that work has not started on O'Shea's Road. It is a disgrace that work has not started on the Warragul section or on Cardinia Road. Enough is enough. People are sick and tired of being stuck in traffic. We have the intention of creating a great pathway for innovation and also advanced manufacturing, yet nothing is happening because the Beaconsfield exchange has not commenced. I call on the Premier and state and federal Labor members to get involved and get behind this.