Victorian Hansard - Rail: project costs

[dbromage@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage)]

Questions without Notice
24 October 2000

Ms ASHER (Brighton) -- I refer the Treasurer to the blow-out from $80
million to $550 million in the taxpayer contribution to the government's
rail projects. I further refer the Treasurer to the Minister for
Transport's claims that taxpayers may contribute $800 million to these
projects. Will the Treasurer assure the house that the taxpayer
contribution to these rail projects will not exceed $550 million?

Mr BRUMBY (Treasurer) -- We've just got to get a phone call to the
Ballarat Courier!

Government members interjecting.

Mr BRUMBY -- Yes, you're right, and to the Bendigo Advertiser and the
Geelong Advertiser and the La Trobe Valley Express.

Isn't it an extraordinary thing that the first question ever from the
shadow Treasurer about infrastructure is not about the positive things the
government is doing in regional Victoria. After the former Kennett
government's years of neglect of regional Victoria and after its
completing $2 billion worth of major projects in the Melbourne CBD and
none in country Victoria, when this government stands up for regional
Victoria all you can do is knock it!

Honourable members interjecting.

The SPEAKER -- Order! I ask the honourable member for Glen Waverley to
cease interjecting in that fashion. I ask the Treasurer to debate in the
third person and through the Chair.

Mr BRUMBY -- As honourable members would be aware, in the budget that was
brought down by the Premier in May the government put $1 billion of the
surplus into the Growing Victoria infrastructure reserve to support the
key drivers of growth in Victoria -- transport, through Linking Victoria;
IT, through Connecting Victoria; and education, through Skilling Victoria.

We have committed up to $550 million from that fund towards the
improvements to regional rail that were foreshadowed before the election
and in the budget. Those projects will go out to the private sector. They
are part of the Partnerships Victoria program, which this government runs
and which is probably the best partnerships program anywhere in Australia.
The government is making a commitment of $550 million towards a project
that may cost $600 million, $700 million, $800 million, $900 million or $1
billion, depending on the bids that come in from the private sector. But
the government's contribution has been established at $550 million.

The SPEAKER -- Order!

Mr BRUMBY -- Let us be clear: a whole range of projects have been funded
in Melbourne under the former government in this state. It is about time
the regions got a share of the action! That is what they are getting.

This represents the biggest investment in regional rail services since the
1890s. While Liberal Party members whinge about the government putting
$550 million into country Victoria, we look at Federation Square -- your
legacy: overcosted and overblown, with a budget blow-out of $350 million!

Mr Rowe -- On a point of order, Mr Speaker, not only is the minister
attempting to intimidate a female member of this Parliament, he is
debating the question.

Honourable members interjecting.

The SPEAKER -- Order! The Deputy Premier! The honourable member for
Bentleigh! I do not uphold the point of order. However, I remind the
minister of the need to debate in the third person and to speak through
the Chair.

Mr BRUMBY -- I am concluding my answer, Mr Speaker. I just make this
point. It is extraordinary that the National Party as part of the former
coalition government closed five country rail lines in this state and
today the first question from the shadow Treasurer attacks a commitment by
the Bracks government to provide $550 million for country Victoria.

We on this side of the house are proud of what we are doing. We are proud
of the way we are rebuilding opportunities in regional Victoria. Despite
the knocking, whingeing and criticism from the other side, we will
continue with our program.