Acting premier Jacinta Allan won’t rule out more cost blowouts for Big Build Projects

Victoria’s Big Build projects have long been plagued by billions in cost blowouts under Labor’s leadership - but there could be more on the way.

Victoria’s acting Premier can’t rule out that more cost blowouts could plague the state’s Big Build projects.

Jacinta Allan, the Minister responsible for the state’s transport infrastructure agenda, on Thursday said budget deliberations remained ongoing.

“No decisions have been made which makes it impossible to rule things in and out until the Treasurer hands down his Budget on Budget day,” she said during a visit to the Metro Tunnel on Thursday.

“When we have challenges on our projects, we have transparently talked to those challenges and worked through those challenges.

“From time to time, a project like the Metro Tunnel has needed that additional investment because to not build these projects would see these transport connections not built.

Big Build Victoria's Big Build Projects

“The overwhelming number of projects are delivered on time and on budget.

“There is no doubt there is some additional pressures on budgets across the country.”

Opposition transport infrastructure spokesman David Southwick said: “Surely $30bn on wasteful budget blowouts is bad enough.

“Labor are preparing Victorians for more bad news, Big Build bills and budget blowouts,” he wrote.

“Unfortunately all Victorians are going to pay the price of bad management with more debt.”

It comes as Victoria’s powerful public sector union called on the government to look at delaying some of its Big Build projects to find budget savings rather than pursuing public service job cuts.

The Herald Sun this week revealed thousands of public servants are set to be axed under a tough new edict issued ahead of May’s state budget.

The Acting Premier Jacinta Allan, will provide an update on North East Link. Supplied: Office of the Premier of Victoria

Ms Allan refused to say whether she would support delaying or reconsidering the timeline of some Big Build projects to alleviate budget pressures.

“In terms of some of the commentary around the Big Build, I do just want to point out that we have a lot of people working on the Big Build. 50,000 people are supported by the work we are doing on the delivery of our transport infrastructure,” she said.

“For every one hi-vis vest you see on a construction site, there’s another two in the supply chain.”

Ms Allan also wouldn’t say whether she was concerned the government could face potential fair work action if a plan to cut public sector jobs went ahead.

“Again, that’s pre-empting the Budget. I’m not going to do that. The Budget will be handed down in May and decisions are still being worked through,” she said.

Originally published as Acting premier Jacinta Allan won’t rule out more cost blowouts for Big Build Projects