Julian Hill (Bruce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Having listened to the previous speaker, I will record three brief thoughts in response—it was an interesting mix of fact and fiction. Firstly, I am a big fan of Geelong. In fact, I used to be the senior executive running all of the regional development staff in Geelong and spent a long time there traversing—

Ms Henderson interjecting—

No, public servants did not deal with federal politicians. That would have been improper. I served under the previous Liberal government and had a lot to do with the planning of Armstrong Creek and fully support what you said about the need to get that duplication happening. It is a critical growth area, both for housing affordability and to spread the urban pattern of Geelong. But, if the member was serious about infrastructure, she would join with Labor in asking this Commonwealth government to give Victoria more than eight per cent of the national infrastructure budget.

Ms Henderson interjecting—

We have 25 per cent of the population and probably a little more of the economy and we get about eight per cent of the national infrastructure budget. Have a look in the forward estimates. I am confident in those numbers. The final point is about the East West Link. As you said, the western section had the biggest BCR. So why did you fund the eastern section first? The project was abandoned for good reason. But that is a matter for another day.

Ms Henderson interjecting—

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