Port lease proceeds mean Daniel Andrews can scrap Sky Rail

Shadow Minister for Planning, David Davis

The bigger than expected sale price for the lease of Port of Melbourne means there is now no excuse for Daniel Andrews to continue with his cheap and nasty Sky Rail and Western Distributor.
The Liberal Nationals Coalition welcomes the announcement of the port lease and is pleased that our support has helped deliver $9.7 billion to Victoria.
Daniel Andrews went to the 2014 election with a promise to remove level crossings from the proceeds of the lease of the Port of Melbourne which was expected to reap around $6 billion.
Now that the Port of Melbourne lease has earned more than expected, Daniel Andrews no longer has the excuse of not building rail under road on the Frankston, Mernda and Hurstbridge lines.
Daniel Andrews was deliberately evasive about Sky Rail before the election and now is his chance to right his wrong and build rail under road.
A recent secret poll commissioned by the Andrews Government showed that for level crossing removals, rail under road was the most popular option in the south-eastern suburbs with around 60% support, whereas Sky Rail was only 13%.
Melbourne is increasing in size by around 90,000 people every year so it is critical we build more infrastructure, but we have to do it right and build it for the long term.  Daniel Andrews’ Sky Rail is a third-rate option that cuts corners and in decades to come will be remembered as one of his greatest mistakes.

Media contact:  James Duncan   0457 758 018           james.duncan@opposition.vic.gov.au