Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for Corangamite for her question. She recognises that among the $50 billion commitment this government is making to infrastructure projects across Australia is a very substantial project to benefit Melbourne and Victoria, the East West Link. This is a project to which the Commonwealth will be contributing $3 billion. It is a project that will deliver real benefits to those travelling to and from work in Melbourne or those needing to traverse the city. This particular road will reduce travel times by at least 20 minutes for up to 100, 000 vehicles every day. The eastern section alone will bypass 23 sets of traffic lights. There will be about 6,500 workers engaged in this project during the construction period. It offers a new solution to Melbourne's traffic gridlock problems.

One would have thought all Australians would want to support a project like this. It is a high priority for people in the electorate of the member for Corangamite and even the people of Gippsland have rated it as their No. 1 transport priority for Victoria.

Mr Husic interjecting—

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