Victorian deputy premier Ben Carroll backs in Suburban Rail Loop amid western MP revolt

Deputy premier Ben Carroll has backed in the controversial Suburban Rail Loop alongside Jacinta Allan following an internal fight over the project led by worried western suburb MPs.

Jacinta Allan and Victorian deputy premier Ben Carroll have made their first public appearance together after it was revealed there is internal tensions among government MPs over the controversial Suburban Rail Loop.

Sources say there has been increasing angst over the signature Andrews government project among MPs from Melbourne’s west who are disgruntled too much money is being spent in the city’s southeast.

They have also complained the west is “being taken for granted” as the Allan government pushes ahead with the hugely expensive rail project.

But Mr Carroll — who is believed to be against the project — on Tuesday backed it in.

“I am supportive of the project,” he said.

“We have taken Suburban Rail Loop to two elections. It is government policy.”

Victorian deputy premier Ben Carroll and Premier Jacinta Allan. Picture: Ian Currie

Where tunnel boring machines will be launched. Picture: Supplied

A meeting of MPs from the west was convened last week with Major Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson addressing the members.

Many of the members expressed concerns that the SRL had placed too much focus on the southeast, calling for the government to back building the Airport Rail first, which voters would support.

Mr Carroll said he was not at the meeting.

Premier Allan said she was not aware of what was raised in the meeting and no MPs had communicated concerns over the project directly with her.

“The colleagues who’ve raised the Suburban Rail Loop with me talk about how excited they are,” she said.

When asked whether she needed to check in with caucus to make sure every MP was on-board, Ms Allan responded: “My colleagues know this very, very well my door is always open to have conversations with colleagues about issues that are important to them”.

Progress of the SRL will be a major test of Ms Allan’s leadership with some sour sources claiming the state government may be forced to consider funding the project itself.

So far the state government has committed $11.8bn, while the federal government has promised $2.2bn.