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

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the Deputy Prime Minister inform the House of the action the government is taking to support infrastructure investment in Victoria, including the proposed East West Link?

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to 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—

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

The member for Chifley.

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

Yet Labor is opposing this project. The Leader of the Opposition in Victoria is saying he will tear up the contracts if he is elected. He will tear up the contracts and condemn Melbourne, again, to traffic gridlock.

Let me make it absolutely clear to the people of Victoria: if this contract is torn up and this project does not proceed, the Commonwealth's $3 billion will have to be repaid. And if there is some penalty associated with the cancellation, Victorian taxpayers will have to pay for those as well.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

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

The member for Grayndler is pushing his luck.

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

Once more, this is not $3 billion committed to Victoria; it is $3 billion committed to the East West project. There can be no guarantee, no commitment whatever, that the money will be redirected to some other project such as bikeways or whatever the Greens happen to want next week. The reality is this is money committed by the Commonwealth for a specific project that will benefit Melbourne's traffic and the Victorian economy. I commend the member for Corangamite who has today launched a petition inviting people to lobby members of the Labor Party from Western Victoria—people like the member for Ballarat—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

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

The member for Grayndler is warned.

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

the member for Corio and the Leader of the Opposition—to support this project which will mean so much to the traffic movement of Victoria. Sign the petition, get the project underway and relieve the traffic congestion issues in Melbourne.