Chris Crewther (Dunkley, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Victorian Labor government's recent budget announced $187 million to destroy 200 jobs at Seaford in my electorate by moving stabling yards from Carrum to Kananook at Seaford, and compulsorily acquiring the land of seven Seaford businesses, with no proper consultation—businesses such as Page Bros Jayco, putting 50 jobs at risk. That is nearly $1 million spent per job taken, with hundreds of families impacted. This is supported by Premier Daniel Andrews and, frustratingly, Labor state members for Carrum and Frankston, Sonya Kilkenny and Paul Edbrooke.

The alternative is to spend no money and take no jobs by state Labor signing off to commence our $4 million federal government plan to electrify and duplicate rail from Frankston to Baxter. This would move stabling yards at or near Baxter on unused land and create jobs through maintenance workshops. This federal funding would provide metro public transport for Langwarrin, Frankston South and Baxter. It would also connect the local university and hospital, thus increasing enrolments by an estimated 20 per cent and improving accessibility to the hospital. That $187 million would go a long way to building this project. So I call on state Labor to stop moving the stabling yards to Seaford, to support local jobs, and to sign off on our $4 million federal government funding. Thank you.