MINISTERS STATEMENTS: INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) — I rise to inform the house about the achievements of the Andrews Labor government in delivering the infrastructure that Victoria needs. It may have escaped the attention of those opposite that last week I brought down a budget — a trifling matter involving $60 billion of state revenue. That showed this government’s resolve to go it alone and to get it done. We decided to fully fund Melbourne Metro and the western distributor. That is $2.9 billion over the forward estimates for Melbourne Metro and $1.46 billion for the western distributor. That is the kind of investment that many suspect those opposite are incapable of.

I confess that last night I felt vindicated because it is clear that the Turnbull government has not had a change of heart. Last night what we saw was just business as usual from the coalition.

Mr Clark — On a point of order, Speaker, I draw your attention again to sessional order 7 and your previous rulings. The Treasurer is now proceeding to debate the budget of another parliament, another government, and I ask you to bring him back to informing this house about his government’s initiatives, projects and/or achievements.

Mr PALLAS — On the point of order, Speaker, this is about our achievements and the infrastructure that we are getting on and delivering. I thought perhaps the opposition might want to talk about a budget — not the Victorian budget; maybe, for example, the federal budget — but this is all about the expenditure and the achievements of this government, with or without the federal government.

The SPEAKER — Order! The Treasurer can make in passing comments in relation to the federal budget. I ask the Treasurer to continue making his ministers statement and primarily refer to state affairs.

Mr PALLAS — The federal budget does of course have a direct impact upon Victoria’s share of national infrastructure. It comes in at 9.7 per cent as a consequence of this. In the face of that, in our budget the government has put in place its 10‑year capital plan. That is to make the investment that this state needs to get on and do it, regardless of what a commonwealth government proposes.

The commonwealth’s recent change of heart and proposal to change the national partnership agreement that this state is a signatory to will effectively require allocations of asset recycling funds into Melbourne Metro. Victorians will not be fooled, because this is money that is Victorians’ right. It is not money that the commonwealth has any right to dictate on as to where it goes. This government will continue to fight for a fair share for Victorians. We will continue to do it despite the apologia that we hear from those opposite.