Peter Dutton, Nathan Conroy announce ‘game changing’ Frankston-Baxter line upgrades
The Liberal’s first major funding announcement for the critical Dunkley by-election was almost derailed when a bystander wandered onto train tracks.
South East
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Frankston families preparing to cast their vote in the crucial Dunkley by-election remain in the dark about the Coalition’s stance on Anthony Albanese’s controversial Stage 3 tax cuts.
Both Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and the Liberal candidate for Dunkley Nathan Conroy refused to say how they would vote on the cuts while campaigning in Frankston on Friday.
Mr Dutton was also unwilling to provide a timeline for when the Coalition would reach a position on the cuts.
He said the Coalition was yet to see “all the details” or the legislation required for the proposed changes.
“We’re looking at the figures. We believe there is a black hole in the government’s costings and we’re analysing that at the moment and we’ll make our announcement in due course,” he said.
He said Australians were struggling under a “weak prime minister” who did not keep his promises.
“If you have that combination in the Lodge it’s going to play out poorly for families in Dunkley and around the country,” Mr Dutton said.
Mr Conroy sad the cost of living was the “number one thing” for Dunkley voters.
“Stage 3 tax cuts won’t be coming until July, five months away,” he said.
“People are concerned about the cost of living right now.”
New figures show that 63,000 people, or 87 per cent of workers, in Dunkley would receive a larger tax cut under Labor’s proposal.
The average tax cut in the electorate would be $1500.
However, Mr Conroy said the extra cash provided to families would be “absorbed by the time inflation takes effect”.
The pair were at Leawarra station to announce a $900m commitment to fund an upgrade to the Frankston-Baxter rail line.
The pledge was the first major funding commitment in the Dunkley by-election and aimed to capitalise on Labor’s recent decision to dump a $225m pledge to electrify the rail line made by Anthony Albanese when he was the opposition spokesman in 2018.
The money earmarked for the project was scrapped in an infrastructure review after Labor won the 2022 election.
Friday’s announcement by Mr Dutton included a capped commitment of up to $900m to deliver a full business case, early works and construction.
The project would involve the electrification of 8km of the Stony Point line and include new stations at Langwarrin and the Frankston East medical and education precinct, and upgraded stations at Frankston and Baxter.
A 2020 preliminary business case estimated the work would cost up to $1.5bn.
The state’s infrastructure body does not support the project, and believes bus upgrades on the Mornington Peninsula is a better option.
However, Mr Dutton said the project was a “game changer” for the region and one that the Victorian Labor government would ultimately be forced to back.
“Having old diesel trains running on a single line in this day and age is not right,” he said.
“This would be one of the only rail corridors in a metro area that is not duplicated and not electrified.
“I believe the state will revisit the decision.”
Mr Conroy said the majority of voters supported the rail project which would “ease congestion in Frankston city and make sure people could spend more time at home with their families”.
But Labor candidate for Dunkley, Jodie Belyea on Wednesday said the upgrade wasn’t something residents cared about.
“I’m out and about in the community talking to them about what matters most to them and I can tell you now the Baxter line isn’t something that’s coming up in any of my discussions,” she said.
The rail announcement almost ended prematurely after a man wandered on to the train tracks behind Mr Dutton.
Looking overly refreshed, the man stood in the middle of the tracks for a few moments, forcing an oncoming train to stop and sound the horn.
The man’s intentions were not clear and Mr Dutton was uneasy about proceeding.
However, the man was ushered to safety and the announcement continued.
