House debates Questions without Notice
Road Infrastructure
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
2:28 pm
My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's threats to Victorians to withdraw the $3 billion of Commonwealth funding for infrastructure if they did not vote Liberal on Saturday.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Can the Prime Minister assure the people of Victoria that they will always get their fair share of Commonwealth infrastructure funding?
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Before I call the honourable Prime Minister, the honourable Treasurer will stop his interjection across the chamber.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:29 pm
I certainly can assure the people of Victoria that they will get their fair share of projects. I can assure them of that. But I do hope that the incoming Premier of Victoria does reconsider his misguided commitment to tear up the East West Link contract. I do hope that he will reconsider that commitment because it is pretty clear that the people of Victoria do want the East West Link. Even the Leader of the Opposition—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
wants the East West Link, because the Leader of the Opposition was the author of two submissions—not one, but two submissions—in favour of the East West Link.
Ms Butler interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Griffith will put down her prop.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
So this government is in favour of the East West Link. The Leader of the Opposition, once upon a time, at least, was in favour of the East West Link. And we are only too happy to continue to deliver $3 billion to the government of Victoria, provided it goes ahead with building the East West Link that it is contractually obligated to build.