House debates Questions without Notice

Urban Congestion Fund

Wednesday, 11 August 2021 House of Representatives

Jim Chalmers

Jim Chalmers Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer

3:07 pm

My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer confirm that: 10 per cent of the total funds he committed as Treasurer for commuter car parks at the last election were allocated to his own electorate; not one of these car parks has been built; not one of these car parks is under construction; and one of these car parks is for a station which soon won't exist? How's he reducing congestion with car parks that don't get built?

Josh Frydenberg

Josh Frydenberg Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer

The first thing is the honourable member asked about the commuter car park fund and he talked about how I, as Treasurer, had supported the commuter car park fund. Let me say to the House: the majority of our commitments are either being delivered or expected to be under construction within the next 18 months. Two commuter car parks are currently operational, at Beaconsfield and Hurstbridge. Three commuter car parks are currently under construction, at Craigieburn, Croydon and Maroondah. Around 15 commuter car parks will commence construction this year, and I'm advised a further 16 commuter car parks will commence construction in 2022. So I say to the honourable member, whether it's car parks in those electorates or in mine, we look forward to them being built.