Hansard debates

Mr LEANE (Eastern Metropolitan) — I move:

That this house:

(1)   congratulates the Minister for Public Transport, Ms Jacinta Allan, MP, and the Andrews Labor government for commencing work on removing 50 of Victoria's most dangerous level crossings and committing to build a world-class Melbourne Metro rail system within the first 100 days of office; and

(2)   notes that these projects:

(a)    are vital to upgrading and improving Victoria's public transport system to meet the demand of a growing population; and

(b)   will make our roads and crossings safer and increase access to the Melbourne University and hospital precinct in Parkville.

In moving this motion I acknowledge that these are major transport commitments — not only public transport commitments but also road commitments — that were made by the government when in opposition. I am very pleased that we have since formed government, because it gives us an opportunity to implement these projects. Removing 50 of the most dangerous level crossings across the metropolitan area will be a fantastic thing not only because it will improve safety for drivers, which is obviously the best outcome, but also because it will simultaneously relieve congestion and give us the ability to increase the frequency of train services along those particular lines.

Mr Barber — Really? How much?

Mr LEANE — Mr Barber needs to be patient.

Mr Barber — I have been here for eight years.

Mr LEANE — We have only just come to government. Mr Barber has been here for eight years. He is impatient. He is a lot of things.

Mr Barber — That was more of a press release than a plan; is that what you are saying?

Mr LEANE — I say to Mr Barber that it is not just a press release. I think if Mr Barber is patient and waits about five weeks, he might see a substantial amount of money going towards these particular projects in the next budget. Mr Barber speaks about press releases. If he is interested in press releases, he may be interested in the press releases put out a couple of months ago about the establishment of the authorities that will take charge of these two major projects and about the money that was brought forward to implement them.

Mr Barber — Do they have their logos yet?

Mr LEANE — It is not about logos. It is not about anything but removing 50 of the most dangerous level crossings and implementing a world-class metro rail system for Victoria. I appreciate that people are passionate about it. People are excited — I can hear the excitement in the chamber — that these projects will be going ahead. The government has committed to removing a number of these level crossings in its first term.

Mrs Peulich — Like the ones along the Frankston line?

Mr LEANE — I do not know if Mrs Peulich is putting in a budget bid. She is talking about the Frankston line — —

Mrs Peulich — You cannot put them underground; that is your problem.

Mr LEANE — There are a number of level crossings along that line that the government has committed to removing as part of the 50, as Mrs Peulich knows. I am sure the authority and the government are happy to take up the challenge of every level crossing that has been committed to.

Mrs Peulich — I look forward to that.

Mr LEANE — Mrs Peulich looks forward to that happening, as do I. I am sure she will look forward to not being held up at those particular level crossings while she is driving around her electorate. She is very much looking forward to it.

Mrs Peulich interjected.

Mr LEANE — I am happy to have a discussion with Mrs Peulich. I look forward to it as well. I look forward to Centre Road in Clayton having its road and rail separated. We look forward to that very much.

Mrs Peulich — You're delaying it.

Mr LEANE — There are no delays. This government has already done some work around a number of the level crossings we committed to removing. I do not think Mrs Peulich cannot support this policy. Does Mrs Peulich support this policy? I am not sure.

Mrs Peulich — We want it done earlier.

Mr LEANE — Mrs Peulich did not support the policy going into the election. Then, unfortunately for her, the coalition did not form government. Now that she is out of government she is calling on this government to deliver its commitments faster.

Mrs Peulich — I have been talking about the Clayton Road level crossing for years.

Mr LEANE — For years? How did Mrs Peulich go in the last four years, when the coalition was in government?

Mrs Peulich — That was a commitment we made.

Mr LEANE — It is interesting that Mrs Peulich says this is a commitment the coalition made, because this was a commitment the coalition made after the then opposition announced the first 40 of the 50 level crossings we would remove if we were to form government. It was only after we made that commitment that the previous government announced its plan for Clayton Road. The coalition is always devoid of any originality.

Mrs Peulich — Stop delaying, and get on with it.

Mr LEANE — If we want to talk about delays and getting on with it, we will not take any advice from the former government, under which the only major project completed was a design competition for Flinders Street station. The only major project the former government completed was a design competition, which resulted in an overseas architect claiming the prize and taking the money out of the country.

Mrs Peulich — You're just talking rubbish as usual.

Mr LEANE — I am not talking rubbish; it is true. As members shall see, and I know it hurts Mrs Peulich's feelings, this government will keep its election commitments. In the last few days there have been shrill cries from the other side of the chamber about this government keeping its election commitment not to go ahead with the east–west link.

Mrs Peulich — Not a dollar in compensation!

Mr LEANE — All right, we will wear the dollar. We will wear the $1 of compensation.

Mr Barber — I'll compensate you.

Mr LEANE — Mr Barber has just compensated me; I thank him. I appreciate the compensation. If he does not mind, I might glue this dollar to the wall in my Parliament House office, and when the time comes for that dollar to be called in I will give him credit for it. I will give Mr Barber credit for the compensation for not going ahead with the east–west link.

When those in opposition were in government, they went to the election telling the electorate that this project would cost $6.8 billion. In opposition they have called and called for the contracts to be released. They should have been careful what they wished for, because the contracts have been released, and they have exposed the truth of the spin that the former government put on a project that was an absolute dud. It has been proven to be a dud project. I am sure there is great relief across the electorate that it is not going ahead.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mr RAMSAY (Western Victoria).

Debate adjourned until next day.