David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McKenzie for her question and her longstanding interest in Victoria's infrastructure. The Abbott government has made a record $7.6 billion investment to build the infrastructure of the 21st century for Victoria. This is an additional $1.6 billion between 2013-14 and 2018-19 compared to Labor's last budget update in government, in the Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Outlook. The largest and most important project is the East West Link, as the senator has adverted to, which the government has committed $3 billion towards. East West Link stage 1, which will connect the Eastern Freeway with CityLink, will create 3,700 jobs. East West Link stage 2, a 12-kilometre link that will connect Appleton Dock Road at the Port of Melbourne to the Western Ring Road at Sunshine West, is expected to create 3,000 construction jobs. Together, this vital infrastructure project will create almost 7,000 jobs in Victoria.

Cesar Melhem, former secretary of the AWU Victorian branch and current Legislative Council member in Melbourne, is quoted as saying:

It is just crazy not to go ahead with the [east-west] project.

He went on to say:

The AWU will campaign heavily to make sure a future Labor government goes ahead with it.

This coalition government and the Napthine government of Victoria are the only people to agree with Mr Melhem and to guarantee the construction of the East West Link, which is a vital and important piece of infrastructure for Victoria.