The Victorian opposition has questioned the decision to continue with the latest part of the SRL project despite funding not yet being received
The Victorian Liberal Party has warned the state’s taxpayers that they’re facing an additional debt of $9 billion to pay for the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East project.
The state opposition says the Victorian government is pressing ahead with the project before funding has been secured.
Currently, the Liberal Party says the federal government has committed $2.2 billion of the $34.5 billion that the state government says it will contribute, with Victorian transport and infrastructure minister Danny Pearson saying the government will continue with the project regardless of whether the extra funding is provided.
The Liberal Party also referred to the recent Victorian Auditor-General report that says admissions by the state government for the SRL East project could’ve blown out to as much as $41 billion before the project starts.
“Labor’s multi-billion cost blowouts are driving up debt, taxes and cost of living pressures for all Victorians,” Victorian opposition leader John Pesutto says.
“Pressing ahead with this project before funding has been secured is reckless and places enormous risks on Victorian taxpayers.”
Victorian shadow transport and infrastructure minister David Southwick says: “Labor’s continued mismanagement of major projects is making life harder for Victorians.
“Under Labor, major projects have suffered at least $38 billion on cost blowouts and now Victorian taxpayers will be on the hook for even more.”