Victorian taxpayers are facing a further $9 billion bill to pay for the SRL East as the Allan Government presses ahead with the project before funding has been secured.
The Allan Government has repeatedly claimed the Commonwealth will fund one-third of the $34.5 billion SRL East, despite the Federal Government only committing $2.2 billion to date.
Now, Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson has stated the Victorian Government will press ahead with the project regardless of whether additional Commonwealth funding is forthcoming – placing Victorian taxpayers on the hook for at least an additional $9 billion.
Recently, the Victorian Auditor-General reported admissions by the Allan Government that the SRL East project could have blown out to as much as $41 billion – and that’s before the project has even started.
Leader of the Opposition, John Pesutto, said: “Labor’s multi-billion cost blowouts are driving up debt, taxes and cost of living pressures for all Victorians.
“Pressing ahead with this project before funding has been secured is reckless and places enormous risks on Victorian taxpayers.”
Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure, David Southwick, said: “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.”
