Sarah Henderson (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Every single day, as the member for Corangamite, I fight for jobs. Across the Geelong region, unemployment is higher than average, with particular pressure on the manufacturing sector. That is why our government is making record investments in infrastructure, which is important to boost our economy and to create thousands of jobs.

Our government is investing $3 billion in the East West Link, including $1.5 billion for the western section, which will deliver a second river crossing and cut peak hour commuter times between Geelong and Melbourne by three hours a week. The East West Link will also deliver more than 6,000 construction jobs. The state Labor government will stop this project and tear up the contracts. For our economy and for these critical jobs we cannot let this happen.

Today I announce I am launching a petition calling on federal Labor MPs in Geelong, western Melbourne and Ballarat to stand up for jobs and back the East West Link. This includes the member for Corio, the member for Ballarat and the Leader of the Opposition. We need as many people as possible to sign this petition to demonstrate the importance of this project. The G21 Geelong Region Alliance—the councils of Greater Geelong, Golden Plains, Surf Coast, Queenscliff and Colac Otway—strongly back this project. If the state Labor government gets its way, this will send a wrecking ball through our local economy. Labor federal MPs must do the right thing and back the East West Link for the sake of local families, our region and our future.