Stay up-to-date by signing up to receive Michael’s eNewsletter.
Subscribe Now
AUSTRALIANS NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH THE SUBURBAN RAIL LOOP VANITY PROJECT WILL COST
THE HON MICHAEL SUKKAR MP
Shadow Minister for Social Services
Shadow Minister for NDIS
Shadow Minister for Housing
Shadow Minister for Homelessness
SENATOR THE HON BRIDGET MCKENZIE
Leader of the Nationals in the Senate
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport
& Regional Development
MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, 24 November 2022
AUSTRALIANS NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH THE SUBURBAN RAIL LOOP VANITY PROJECT WILL COST
Last night Federal Member for Deakin, Michael Sukkar MP and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie wrote to the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) requesting the forecast costing of the Suburban Rail Loop in Victoria.
Anthony Albanese and his Government promised to only fund projects assessed by Infrastructure Australia, but they are now choosing to turn their back on this commitment. At the last State election Labor said this project would cost up to $50 billion, now we’re told it will cost $125 billion with many experts now estimating it will blow out to $200 billion.
“With Commonwealth contributions of $2.2 billion, we need to know what this project is going to cost. We can’s saddle future generations of Victorians with a mountain of debt for a white elephant project such as this, they deserve to know what it will cost,” Mr Sukkar said.
The Prime Minister has redirected and cancelled hundreds of millions of dollars in Victorian infrastructure projects, instead funnelling this funding into the Suburban Rail Loop pet project for Daniel Andrews.
“It is dangerous for a federal government to partner with such reckless behaviour from a state government,” Senator McKenzie said.
Australians deserve to know how much this project is going to cost, particularly those impacted by the cancelled infrastructure projects that were desperately needed in Victoria.