Press conference, Melbourne Airport

CATHERINE KING [MINISTER]: Thanks, everyone. Catherine King, Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. It's terrific to be here at Melbourne Airport with my Victorian state colleague, Gabrielle Williams, and of course, the CEO of Melbourne Airport, Lorie Argus.

Today is a great day for Melbourne Airport Rail. We have signed a memorandum of understanding between the Commonwealth of Australia, the Victorian Government, and Melbourne Airport to decide the process by which we reach an agreement to get Melbourne Airport Rail done. This is an important step in ensuring that we have the right processes in place to work- have officials work together. It gives permission for officials to start the work together to make sure that we get the right outcome, both for the airport but also for the people of Victoria. This is a project that we want to get done, we’re determined to get done. It follows the $2 billion of investment that the Albanese Labor Government has put in to get Sunshine [indistinct] money into that, and of course, it comes alongside the money that is invested and ready for Melbourne Airport Rail. We've got a little way to go yet, but this is a significant step in progress to getting Melbourne Airport Rail to the airport.

I’m going to hand over the Gab and then Lorie [indistinct]...

GABRIELLE WILLIAMS [VIC MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE]: Thank you, Minister King, and thank you, Lorie, for hosting us today at the wonderful Melbourne Airport.

And as Minister King has outlined, today's signing of the MOU marks a very significant step forward in our delivery of airport rail. As we saw a couple of weeks ago with the federal government's commitment to works at Sunshine, we're effectively underway in delivering stage one of Melbourne Airport Rail, which of course is the works at the Sunshine station area, to untangle that track, to make space for a dedicated line to the airport, and also to make space for a future electrified Melton line. That project will be complete by 2030, and in the meantime, we're getting on with recommencing these conversations between the three parties represented here today, to make sure that we've got a strong way of working and a statement through this MOU of our shared commitment to delivering this project. Why? Because we know how important it is for all Victorians. We know how much this project is wanted, and we are all very much committed to being able to deliver this in the time ahead and to have a very constructive working relationship in order to be able to do just that.

And with that, I might hand to Lorie.

LORIE ARGUS [CEO, MELBOURNE AIRPORT]: Thank you, Gabby. And thank you to both the ministers who are standing here with me today because we, as you know, have been talking about this project for a very long time, arguably too long. So, what is really exciting about today is this is just another step forward. So in line with our compromise last year to accept the above ground station and to get on with the project, today we're standing here with the airport, with the state government, and with the federal government to get that done. And we do have that working group stood up. You've seen us sign the MOU this week, and we are very excited to keep this project moving and make sure that this project becomes a reality for the Victorians who deserve a train to the airport. And of course, in line with our third runway approval and the work and growth that we plan for Victoria, those transport solutions are very important for our growth, 76 million passengers by 2046. This is a really welcomed announcement, and I'm very excited to see this project come to fruition along with our third runway.

Thank you.

JOURNALIST: What happens if there's a change of federal government? Will this MOU fall into the water?

LORIE ARGUS: From an airport perspective, we're talking to all sides of government, and I really don't think that the- I think the project will go on because regardless of political beliefs or which party you follow, the thing that Victorians are saying is they expect a train to the airport. And to be a world-class airport, you need a train to the airport, and we know that Melbourne is one of the few airports that doesn't have one. So I can't imagine that the Victorian public will not hold any government accountable to make sure that it's delivered.

JOURNALIST: This is a big step today. [Inaudible]…

CATHERINE KING: Yes, it is a significant step today. I think what we've had in the past is that I think Victoria and the airport have been in discussions. That went on pause for a while. The Commonwealth really wasn't part of those discussions. And so, what this today is saying is the Commonwealth, the Victorian Government, and the airport collaboratively saying we want our officials to now start working. There’s a working group to be established, chaired by an independent chair.

To sort out any of the remaining issues that we have, I was very grateful that the airport took the decision that they would accept that the [indistinct] rail will come above ground. That's sorted out immediately. A really challenging problem. As you know, we've got Neil Scales to come in and have a look, how could we progress this important project. So Sunshine really important to actually get that built to unlock the capacity to build airport rail as well as really get that electrification to Melton started and really improve regional services in places like Ballarat and Bendigo and Geelong, my hometown of Ballarat, but also to look at the traffic study on the Tullamarine. So all of that is happening and this is really a significant step.

Basically saying, now here you've got frankly, three fabulous women who are basically saying, we want to get this sorted, we're signing an agreement. This is how we're going to work together cooperatively in good faith to deliver this for the people of Victoria. So it's a pretty big deal.

JOURNALIST: [indistinct] the timeline on it? Now that- did the MOU put a date on that?

CATHERINE KING: No, look it doesn't. And as I said, I think that this is important that we all work together in good faith. There are outstanding issues that the airport has, outstanding issues that the Victorian Government have. The Commonwealth has got interest in this as well. We want to work together to get this done, and I think we want to make sure it happens. Obviously, the Sunshine work is starting, that planning work, we announced that earlier. The Victorian Government has put the money into that. We're putting $2 billion into the construction. All of that is happening. There was already significant work done on Melbourne Airport rail by the Victorian government previously. So all of those services that needed moving, all of that has already been done.

So once we reach agreement, I guess in terms of the airport and how we're actually going to work that through, then the project will start. But really, I don't want to put a timeline on it yet. We want to be able to work in good faith together.

JOURNALIST: Gab, is one of the sticking points funding from the state government perspective?

GABRIELLE WILLIAMS: Well, look, as we've seen, you know, the MOU sets out very clearly our commitment to delivering the project. And within the terms of that MOU, it also sets us a path to continue the discussions that will ultimately allow us to deliver that project, taking into account all the various considerations that each of the parties will have. What we've also seen, though, and I think for me, the announcement by the federal government a couple of weeks ago and the announcement around works commencing next year on Sunshine station works, as well as this represents the biggest kick starting to this project that we've seen in many years and brings this project well into view for all Victorians. And I think our opportunity is first and foremost to get started on the works on Sunshine, which is effectively stage one of airport rail, and then through this MOU to work through all of those other commercial issues and matters and ensure that we can be delivering this project for the benefit of all Victorians. And that's what we're committed to doing. And this MOU, I think, is a very powerful signal to all Victorians that we have three very invested and committed parties who are absolutely focused on delivering this project, alongside significant investments from both the state and the Commonwealth government to getting the works effectively started from the Sunshine end.

Keeping in mind, that that's arguably the most complex phase of the project in terms of the untangling of some six kilometres of track to make way for a line to the airport, and also to pave the way for a future electrified Melton line, and, you know, moving a jet fuel pipeline and all sorts of other very difficult things at that end of the network. And also keeping in mind that that interchange is a super hub for our city. It's got 70 per cent of V/Line services come through Sunshine station. It is an incredibly important transport hub and interchange point for our public transport network and absolutely critical for the delivery of airport rail.

So getting moving on that while also solidifying our relationships, with both the Commonwealth and the airport and the state, will ensure that we can deliver this project and will give Victorians I think, confidence in our commitment to deliver the project.

JOURNALIST: Deliver it when?

GABRIELLE WILLIAMS: [Laughs] As I said, work starts next year on Sunshine. That can be delivered by 2030. In the meantime, this MOU allows us to be able to work through all of those matters and be able to have more to say in due course about the next phase of this really important project.

JOURNALIST: And what's the final- the most updated cost estimate for this? The breakdown has been [inaudible]…

GABRIELLE WILLIAMS: Look, those will be matters that will ultimately be worked through the framework of this MOU. And we'll have more to say about that in due course. Obviously, you've heard from Lorie about the change in position from the airport around an above ground station. These are all matters that we will work through now and fine tune, and we'll have more to say to the Victorian people about that as these conversations progress. Thank you.