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

My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Can the minister explain why the government is committing $2.2 billion to the Suburban Rail Loop, a project which has not been endorsed by Infrastructure Australia and which has been criticised by such bodies as the Grattan Institute and the Victorian Auditor-General as not being a worthwhile investment?

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The investment in the Suburban Rail Loop is a once-in-a-generation infrastructure project. We are honouring our election commitment to provide $2.2 billion towards the early works of the Suburban Rail Loop East. Not only will that project actually benefit the suburbs of our great city of Melbourne; it will benefit Victorian regional communities as well. Let me tell you about that. Because the Victorian government are making Clayton a superhub, people who live in Gippsland will be able to get to Monash hospital, to the children's hospital and to Monash University, saving one hour in a round trip. So it is not just a project for the Victorian suburbs; it is a project for Victoria's regions as well.

Of course, what we also know is that the detailed business and investment case for Suburban Rail Loop East, released by Victoria last year, demonstrated a cost-benefit ratio of 1.7, meaning that $1.70 would be returned for every single dollar invested. We know also that suburban rail will be assessed by Infrastructure Australia and that under the National Land Transport Act—which you guys seem to ignore but which actually exists—the project will also be subject to rigorous assessment processes between the Commonwealth and Victoria. We will respect those processes because that is what a responsible government does.

This is a transformational project for Victoria. We've seen over in Western Australia what METRONET has done, creating new suburbs, creating new community hubs and creating more affordable housing across the entirety of Perth.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition!

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Suburban rail will transform the rail network in Victoria in the same way, not just for suburban Victorians but for people—including in your own electorate—

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

Don't talk about my electorate.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

in being able to move around much better and actually be able to—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for La Trobe!

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

What about the bushfires?

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, you should have asked me a question about that! Why didn't you ask me a question about that?

This will be a project that will transform the way in which regional communities access Melbourne. It is a very important project, and I am proud of the $2.2 billion we're investing in partnership with the Premier of Victoria, Dan Andrews, who we hope to see returned as Premier soon.