Why Dan Andrews won’t budge on East West despite PM’s $4b pledge

Premier Daniel Andrews has declared “so be it” if his decision to reject $4 billion in federal funding for the East West Link is not popular with Victorians despite a powerful alliance urging him to build it.

Premier Daniel Andrews has declared “so be it” if his decision to reject $4 billion in federal funding for the East West Link is not popular with Victorians.

Mr Andrews again said this morning that he would not clear the way for the road to be built, despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison stumping up billions of dollars.

“I’m not going to delay or put off projects I’ve committed to build in order to build projects that I said I wouldn’t build,” he said.

“I’ve made commitments to build certain projects and I don’t intend to break those promises.

“It may not be popular, that may not be popular.”

Mr Andrews added: “We had an election on Saturday, I’ve congratulated Scott Morrison on a win but the notion that I’m going to break my promises so he can keep his — no, that’s not going to happen.”

A powerful alliance of transport and industry groups have today called on the Premier to approve the road and re-sequence the state’s infrastructure projects to fit the work in.

But Mr Andrews said that was akin to delaying or scrapping other projects, which he would not do.

He said the state was “at full tilt” when it came to infrastructure projects, including the $15.7 billion North East Link and the $11 billion Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel.

The Sandringham train line will shut for 20 days today, after nine train lines were shut earlier this year.

About 10,000 people are also set to be hired for work on the North-East Link.

“There are limits to how much you can do at any one time,” Mr Andrews said.

Mr Morrison offered $4 billion to build the East West Link, which would link the Eastern Freeway to CityLink in Parkville via an underground tunnel.

However the state Labor government axed ­construction of the project after its 2014 election, saying the project “doesn’t stack up” and not all can be done at the same time.

But the RACV says multiple major projects can be built at once and “if there is money on the table it would be unwise not to take it”.

The Master Builders Association said the PM and Premier should agree on a full suite of necessary ­infrastructure projects and “build it now”.

And the Australian Industry Group said a re-sequencing of major projects should be considered.

Victorious Prime Minister Scott Morrison has offered $4 billion to build the East West Link. Picture: AAP

Federal Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge said on Monday the state government would not have to pay a cent towards East West, but Mr Andrews “does have to green-light it”.

The road standoff added to a drama-filled election wash-up that saw:

THE share market surge $33 billion to an 11-year high on the back of the Coalition’s surprise election victory.

LABOR leadership candidate Anthony Albanese signal he would dump the franking credits policy, admitting it wouldn’t have affected only the wealthy;

DEPUTY Labor leader Tanya Plibersek rule out a tilt for the top job for family reasons;

SENIOR Labor figures Jim Chalmers and Chris Bowen weigh up vying for the top job.

LABOR fall behind in the seat of Chisholm, possibly delivering the Coalition a working majority of 77 House of Representatives seats.

The Victorian head of the Australian Industry Group, Tim Piper, said careful planning would be needed to build many roads at once while not “bringing the city to a standstill”, and a re-sequencing of projects should be considered to tackle congestion quickly.

He said the East West Link would probably have a more significant impact on the Melbourne transport system than the airport rail link.

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RACV public policy manager Bryce Prosser said there was “no reason why the East West Link cannot be built as the same time as the North East Link”, but it would put pressure on costs and demand for construction materials.

He said: “RACV is calling for a fresh ‘multi-modal’ review of the East West corridor given the West Gate Tunnel and North East Link have progressed since the previous scheme was abandoned.”

The North East Link would join the Eastern Freeway and the M80 in Greensborough via a 5km tunnel.

Mr Andrews dumped the East West Link project after contracts were signed by the former Napthine government, wasting more than $1.2 billion.

As Victoria’s population grows by 120,000 a year, he has since given priority to the $6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel and the Metro Rail Tunnel.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said it would be too difficult to add the East West Link to projects already promised: “If it was to be squeezed into the program right now it would cause delay to the North East Link.”

The East West Link remains popular in Melbourne’s southeast and east.

Liberal research showed the promise of total federal and private sector funding for it was a potent campaigning tool that avoided perceptions of “point-scoring”.

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CFMEU assistant state secretary Shaun Reardon said a skills shortage would make it impossible to build the North East and East West links and Metro Tunnel simultaneously. Another building source said it could be done, but it would “be a damn sight more expensive”.

State Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said “Daniel Andrews is effectively being offered a free road” and shouldn’t say no.

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