David Van (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Senator Watt. The Victorian Parliamentary Budget Office says the Suburban Rail Loop would cost $36.5 billion for stage 1 and $125 billion for the full project. At Senate estimates on 28 October infrastructure department officials gave evidence the funding available for the Suburban Rail Loop included:

$11 billion from the state; $11 billion through some kind of value capture … and $2.2 billion from the Commonwealth.

The announced funding adds up to only $25 billion. In the Australian Financial Review today, Premier Andrews is quoted saying the Suburban Rail Loop is 'fully funded and under way'. Minister, what advice other than the Australian Financial Review has the Victorian government provided that the Suburban Rail Loop is fully funded?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on this—

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That was word salad!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't think that's a point of order, Senator Ayres! I might have misheard, but it seemed to me the question does not go to a ministerial portfolio. A question about the state government's sources of advice and how the state government came to a position is not a matter for a Commonwealth minister.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order: Senator Van directly quoted evidence from departmental officials at Senate estimates. The question goes to assurances given to the Commonwealth. This is a government that has decided to give $2.2 billion to a project.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What's the point of order?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's perfectly reasonable to ask with this project whether, in giving that budget commitment, they're aware if its fully funded or not.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt can answer that question to the extent that it covers his Commonwealth responsibilities, bearing in mind that the question referenced the Victorian budget office and the AFR.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We may need Senator Smith to run his eye over some of those questions to make sure they comply with standing orders, something that we know he takes very seriously. The Suburban Rail Loop is a once-in-a-generation infrastructure project. We're doing something that the former government never chose to do, which is to honour election commitments. Remember that funny, old tradition of honouring your election commitments? I know that it didn't happen under you mob, but we actually take these things seriously. We went to the people with an election commitment to spend—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask those particularly on my left to listen to the answer in silence.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We went to the election with a very clear commitment to spend $2.2 billion towards early works for the Suburban Rail Loop East. That was on the back of the fact that the Victorian government had prepared a detailed business and investment case for the Suburban Rail Loop, which was released last year and demonstrated a cost-benefit ratio of up to 1.7, meaning—

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on relevance: Senator Watt is simply reading out the talking points that he has read out all week.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is not a point of order.

Let's get straight to the point of order, Senator McKenzie.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance: the question went to quoting Senate estimates evidence at the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee, where departmental officials listed how much the government has actually put on the table in its budget for this project, which is directly contradicted by the Premier of Victoria.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question went to the rail project and estimates, and the minister is being relevant. Please continue, Minister.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know that the opposition chooses to ignore this, but we have repeatedly made the point that the business case provided by the Victorian government demonstrates a benefit cost ratio of up to 1.7, which means that $1.70 would be returned for every $1 invested.

It's interesting that the opposition is so hung up on projects, involvement with state governments and things like that, because it wasn't that long ago that former Prime Minister Turnbull—someone I know they all choose to forget and pretend was never a member of their party—announced that the Commonwealth would commit $5 billion to the Melbourne Airport rail link project without even speaking to the Victorian Premier first. In March this year, the coalition announced a $1.6 billion commitment for the direct rail line from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast, which the Queensland government described as a bit of a surprise, and the money appeared plucked out of the sky. Again, if we're seriously going to be relying on the Liberal and National parties to lecture people about the appropriate spending of public money, we're going to have to be waiting a fair while.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Van, a first supplementary question?

David Van (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, has the Victorian government provided any evidence or assurance to the Albanese government that Premier Andrews's controversial Suburban Rail Loop is fully funded?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have every confidence in the Victorian government's commitment to build—

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So there's no evidence that it's fully funded?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is it fully funded?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's five seconds.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order on my left! I have a senator on his feet. Senator Van?

David Van (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on relevance: I didn't ask about your assurances; I asked about evidence.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With respect, the minister was about five seconds into his answer, so we'll listen.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Things must be pretty grave in the Victorian campaign if Senator Van is the person who is being turned to to rescue the Liberal Party in Victoria. As I said, I have every confidence that the Victorian government will—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, please resume your seat.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order on my left and right! Senator Henderson?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't believe it was a personal reflection, but, if it assists the Senate, I'm sure Minister Watt will withdraw.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You should withdraw from the room!

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know it's hard to hear facts. I know it's hard to hear about governments that actually do things by the book. I know it's hard to hear about governments that invest based on business cases. Remember all those business cases that didn't exist?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, please resume your seat. Senator McGrath, your incessant interjections are incredibly disorderly. Minister Watt.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Here's a business case that's been provided by the Liberal Party and the National Party. I don't think it can be a prop, because it's a blank piece of paper. I'm not sure that that constitutes a prop. That's the extent of the business cases that we used to see from the Liberal and the National parties when it came to investing in projects. In contrast, the Victorian government has put forward a business case, which demonstrates this is a good project, and we have every intention of getting behind it.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Van, a second supplementary question?

David Van (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, if the Victorian Premier is saying the Suburban Rail Loop project is fully funded, can the minister advise the Senate how much each government is contributing, and will the government provide a commitment that no additional Commonwealth dollars will be provided to the project?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Van knows full well, and I have already said, that our government has committed $2.2 billion towards this project. We know that the Victorian government has committed funding of its own. We know that this is a project that will take some time to complete. You know why it will take some time to complete? It's because the former government didn't want to invest in public transport infrastructure. So now we're getting on with the job of actually investing in this. It will take until 2035 to complete the project, and that will require future budget decisions.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. I'm asking you to listen quietly, particularly senators on my left. Minister Watt, please resume.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's not fully funded, is it?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie, I've just asked for quiet, and you immediately interject again.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said, we know that for 10 years we had a government in Canberra that didn't want to invest in public transport infrastructure. That has changed. We now have an Albanese Labor government that is prepared to get behind big infrastructure projects that will help with public transport and relieve congestion.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McGrath! Senator Sterle, on a point of order?

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If he's still going, President, I'll wait.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, we're getting behind public transport infrastructure in Melbourne. Remember it was the last government that pulled out the funding for Cross River Rail in Brisbane as well. They didn't want to see public transport infrastructure there.

You were the finance minister. You could've got behind this, and you didn't do it.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson, as I explained yesterday, there are many opportunities throughout the week in the Senate to debate points. That's a debating point.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It must hurt the opposition, especially those Victorians who fought tooth and nail against this project, but we're going to get this project done, because we want to relieve congestion in Melbourne, just like we want to relieve it in Brisbane and Sydney—

and even provincial cities, Senator McKenzie. (Time expired)