Sarah Henderson (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the assistant minister update the House on the status of the East West Link project in Melbourne and the benefits this vital infrastructure project will deliver to people in the Corangamite and Geelong region? Are there any impediments to additional infrastructure projects being built in Victoria?

Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you to the member for Corangamite for her question. She is a great fighter for her electorate, particularly when it comes to infrastructure. She is a regular correspondent with the Deputy Prime Minister and me about improving infrastructure in her electorate and, more broadly, in Victoria. She is a huge supporter of the government's commitment to the second stage of the East West project—the western side of the East West project—which we committed to in the budget with an additional $1.5 billion on top of the $1.5 billion we have committed to the first stage, which is moving along.

Ms Chesters interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Bendigo will desist!

Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week, the federal government and the Victorian government announced that the second stage moved along another step, with the appointment of Ernst & Young as a business adviser. This is a vital infrastructure project for Victoria. It will lift the productivity of Victoria. It will have a huge benefit to the people of Corangamite and Geelong.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will resume his seat. The member for Grayndler on a point of order.

Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just retire, Anthony; just retire, seriously.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order. The question went to the benefit of the East West project in Victoria—a project for which the second stage $1 billion has already been paid. Therefore, in order to be relevant, can the minister—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat . And, if he wishes to ask a question, he should seek from his own side an opportunity to ask that question. The minister has the call.

Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The picture of relevancy! The benefits, of course, include a 15 to 20 minute time saving from Geelong to Melbourne, a reduction in congestion on the West Gate Bridge, something that I would have thought members in western seats in Melbourne would support—reducing congestion on that bridge, which at the moment carries an unsustainable 200,000 vehicles a day—and providing an alternative route to the West Gate Bridge. It will remove 20,000 trucks each day from local roads.

The eastern section will allow 100,000 vehicles each day to bypass 23 sets of traffic lights. It is a hugely important project for the development of Melbourne and Victoria. Unfortunately, the ALP in Victoria is opposed—although former Premier John Brumby supports it. In fact, even the Leader of the Opposition, in 2008, said:

… there is a shortage of east-west links … I think the Eddington report is a good one.

The Eddington report, of course, recommended the East West Link. Now, of course, he has been told by the bosses of Victoria to be opposed to it. The questioner also asked about what is stopping additional—

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The caterwauling on my left will cease!

Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

infrastructure investments in Victoria. I can say that Labor's ridiculous opposition to the asset recycling bill will stop a very important public transport project going ahead in Victoria which the federal government supports. The Melbourne Rail Link will be stopped if the Labor Party continues with its ridiculous opposition to the Asset Recycling Initiative.

Last week Labor's spokesman talked about what Labor would do if they were re-elected at the next election. He said that he would put more money back into public transport, which is interesting, because he does that by cutting projects—this is without the Asset Recycling Initiative—raising taxes or he does what Labor always does and borrows more.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.