ROB MITCHELL, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MCEWEN: Well, welcome everyone here this morning to Beveridge. This is one of the most exciting projects we’ll see here in Victoria, the Beveridge Intermodal Freight Precinct. We've got Minister King and Minister Horne here along with John Holland, everyone involved in this exciting event. And I'll hand over to Minister King to do the announcement.

MINISTER CATHERINE KING: Thanks. Look, it's terrific to be here again out at Beveridge with Rob Mitchell, the Member for McEwen; my friend and colleague, the State Minister for Ports, Freight, Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne; and, James Baulderstone, the CEO of the National Intermodal Corporation.

Well, this is a great day for Melbourne's north, the start of the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct here which will generate over 8,000 jobs when operating here in this region - over $14 billion into the Victorian economy. We've seen just what a game-changer the Moorebank Intermodal Precinct is in Western Sydney, this will do exactly the same thing for Melbourne's North – providing job opportunities so that people from Melbourne's north can actually work in their local community.

This investment as part of the Australian Labor Government's freight strategy to really get that interconnection between our rail, our road transport, and the Inland Rail Project that we are busy continuing to build as we speak. Beveridge will be a game-changer, as I said, for Melbourne's north, really providing that opportunity for locals to not have to commute each day to Melbourne's west, to Melbourne's east, and Melbourne's south for work, but actually having that opportunity of a significant industrial precinct here in Melbourne's north.

It will also when up and operating, be a great generator not only of jobs but also of energy. We know that at Moorebank, the opportunity of solar panels has meant that we're actually generating a substantial amount of energy, and that will also happen here in this community.

I want to acknowledge all of the work that has gone into the project so far. Contracts are now signed with John Holland for Stage 1 of this project to begin construction. But really, I want to thank the Victorian Government, who have really partnered with us to make sure that we've got the planning right for this project. We've got the interconnectedness with the Port of Melbourne to really make sure that this provides the opportunity to get more trucks off the busy Hume Highway, more trucks off our roads. And making sure that we're getting more freight on rail and we have that interconnected logistics precinct.

I'm going to hand over to Melissa to say a few words. I'll get James to say a few words and then we'll all be happy to take your questions. Thanks, everyone.

MINISTER MELISSA HORNE, VICTORIAN MINISTER FOR PORTS AND FREIGHT: Thanks, Catherine. Well, today is a real opportunity to be able to thank the federal government for their vision in getting this program, this important project, up and running. Not only will it be a game-changer for Melbourne's north but it will be a game-changer for the whole of Victoria. Because as the freight and logistics capital of Australia, we certainly are moving more freight, and want to see that onto rail.

We've got a long history of partnering with the Commonwealth Government through the vision a decade ago to be able to get those port-rail shuttle networks up and running. And this now is that important piece to be able to move freight much more efficiently, not only in and out of the port, but in and around Melbourne and beyond. So thank you very much to the federal government for this. James.

JAMES BAULDERSTONE, CEO NATIONAL INTERMODAL: As the Minister has said, this is a really exciting day for National Intermodal. It's more than a rail terminal. This facility does three things that are really important for Australia into the future. It makes sure that people can access their essential products when they need them. It makes sure that they can be done affordably and underpin the cost of living challenges. And thirdly, sustainability - this has the opportunity to be 100 per cent a net zero precinct. And in the really hard to abate emissions for the freight sector, it's truly transformational. So it's been a great day, and thank you everyone for coming.

CATHERINE KING: Let’s start with me, I guess. I'm happy to take questions on this and other matters of course.

JOURNALIST: What about Melbourne Airport Rail? It is my understanding that the designs are very close to being signed off. When do we stand on that?

CATHERINE KING: The first part of Airport Rail, and again it’s fantastic to have such a great partner with the Victorian Labor state government. The first part is Sunshine. So getting the designs for the Sunshine Precinct there are just about ready, and untangling the loop for Melbourne Airport Rail. But also for the electrification of the Melton lines and other upgrades across the whole precinct as well. So that work, I understand, is pretty close. The $2 billion from the federal government is there, $2 billion from the state government, and work is continuing both on that and the Melbourne Airport Rail link. But really trying to make sure that we get that right and to start work on that as soon as we possibly can, but we're still not finalised with the design stages of that yet.

JOURNALIST: When will that be finished?

CATHERINE KING: Well again, I don't want to give you a date without having done that work, but the first piece of work is really the Sunshine station. That has to happen- and that construction on that Sunshine precinct has to happen first. The untangling of the rail network there, that will be the first piece of work and that really is the start of Airport Rail.

JOURNALIST: But considering, as you say, that work is basically finished.

CATHERINE KING: The design work's finished. The construction's a little way off yet.

JOURNALIST: So for the second part, the actual airport station design, is there a year when you think that will be done?

CATHERINE KING: Nice try, but the first thing we've got to do is really- like, Sunshine is huge. If you think about it, we're basically building Southern Cross at Sunshine. You are disentangling over 150 years of rail network that has just been added to, and it is a really complex project. It's a $4 billion, 50-50 funded project between the Albanese Labor Government and the Allan Labor state government here in Victoria. A really important project. That will have to be done first, then the loop to the airport will happen.

But that design work, early works on Melbourne Airport Rail have already been done. They've already been completed, so services have already been moved. So once we've got Sunshine started, got the untangling done, then we can start to proceed with Melbourne Airport Rail. I don't want to give you a date yet, but we are working very closely with the Victorian Government on actually delivering both of those important projects for the west of the state.

JOURNALIST: What can you tell us then about the Sunshine project? Is that an imminent announcement?

CATHERINE KING: Certainly, the designs, as I understand, are not far off. And then you will be the first to see them as well. Well, hopefully, I'll be the first to see them, and then you'll be the second to see them.

JOURNALIST: And how have the meetings been? Obviously, it's been well publicised that there has been a bit of back and forth between the state government and Melbourne Airport over designs and also construction.

CATHERINE KING: Yeah, can I just say the relationship between Melbourne Airport, the Victorian state government and the Commonwealth, has been terrific. Really, I think, taking that sort of sensible approach that we've taken to try and, you know, really work together to understand, what are the constraints of each party, work together - all of the reports that I'm getting is that relationship is good. We're working very closely together and I think we will see Melbourne Airport Rail absolutely finally, after a long, period of time of successive promises, really actually starting to build and get traction.

JOURNALIST: You’ve flagged that there’d be more funding for Suburban Rail Loop, can you give us any indication about how those discussions are progressing?

CATHERINE KING: Yeah. Well certainly, we obviously have unlocked our $2.2 billion for Suburban Rail Loop East. You would have seen at the Metro testing, the Prime Minister say that the Commonwealth will work through our budget processes which are in May next year, to look for a further commitment to suburban rail east, and we'll make those announcements in the budget.

JOURNALIST: You've obviously expressed concern in the past about the Allan Government's plans and the vagueness in the way funding will occurred for the Suburban Rail Loop. Have those concerns been alleviated?

CATHERINE KING: So again, we've been working really closely with the Victorian Government to work through any of the issues that were raised through Infrastructure Australia, and I am very confident that you will see through the budget additional federal funding for suburban rail work. And we've been working, as I said, really closely. The Victorian Government has been providing significant amounts of information to my department. Our secretaries have been meeting very regularly about this project. And I'm confident that we- you know, we feel confident that we can make a further investment decision in suburban rail loop in the upcoming budget.

JOURNALIST: Will the further investment be the third that's required?

CATHERINE KING: You'll see all of that as part of the budget next year, which is in May in 2026.

JOURNALIST: Is it correct that the SRL and the airport rail have essentially kind of been bundled under the same project?

CATHERINE KING: Well certainly, you’ve got Sunshine, and that's really critical. So Sunshine is critical to a whole lot of things. Sunshine is critical to electrify the Melton Line eventually. We've got money already being invested to lengthen the Melton Station and to work on the first parts of electrification, and to unlock that. And you'll, I'm sure, hear more about the need for that in the west as we go further.

You've obviously got issues in terms of the northern line as well. Sunshine is critical for that as well. And airport rail will also have to be a loop. And all of that really is part of a really significant upgrade that's needed for rail across the board in the west and the north. And really, that also is part of the suburban rail loop project as well.

JOURNALIST: Is it your advice that the airport rail link will be finished by about 2035?

CATHERINE KING: Again, nice try with dates. But really what we're working through, what I've learnt well and truly in this portfolio, is to work systematically through issues and problems, make sure you've got the planning right, you've got the investment decisions right, and then you can start construction.

And really that's what we've been doing, getting that really complex understanding of the needs of the project and working with our partners in the state government to really get on with trying to see what do we do to do for delivery.

I don't want to make promises we can't keep, I want to make sure we actually deliver, when we say we're going to deliver it. That is exactly what we're doing. Because that is the hallmark of this government, this Labor government, is that we are all about delivery. I don't want to be standing there making promises and then having to change those. I want to be able to deliver on what we say we're going to deliver.

JOURNALIST: Obviously though there's been a big question about funding with SRL, can you promise that SRL will be finished?

CATHERINE KING: Well, again, the construction will be a matter for the Victorian state government, but it is happening – it is happening in the east.

I think the tunnel boring machines are starting to be assembled on site as we speak. I think there’ll be an event about that in the not too distant future. They are there. This project is happening. We are very proud to partner with the Victorian Government on what will be a significant project for Melbourne's east, as well as investing significantly here now in Melbourne's north.

I grew up in those eastern suburbs. That was where I spent all of my teenage years, travelling, trying to get from Syndal station over to Monash University to use the library over there when I was studying at university. I know how hard that was for me to do. Suburban Rail Link East will really change the way in which Melburnians move around this city. But also helps people from Gippsland - coming in, on that line, being able then to get to Monash Children's Hospital for example on rail from the Gippsland line. That's what Suburban Rail Loop does, as well as unlocking the potential of new housing that is linked in with where people can live and, great amenity in those suburbs that I grew up in.

JOURNALIST: You say that it's happening, why the hesitancy and why the delay? It’s been, for example, you're obviously foreshadowing budget announcements that the Prime Minister announced. Why not just commit the money now?

CATHERINE KING: Because we have a budget and there's a budget process, so that's what we're doing.

JOURNALIST: Minister, just back quickly on the SRL. Given how much you've spent and how many contracts have been signed thus far, does that play any part to make it easier to providing the funding?

CATHERINE KING: As I said, we've already put $2.2 billion on the table, and that was already there. We did that back in 2022. We've always had confidence in this project, but in order for us to be able to make those investment decisions we have needed further information within the Victorian Government. That's all been in the public domain through Infrastructure Australia's assessments, and that's the work that we needed to do with the Victorian Government to assure ourselves that this project really was going to be delivered in the way in which the Victorians were saying. We are confident about that.

We foreshadowed that we will start to make further investment decisions in that, and you’ll see those in the May budget.

JOURNALIST: Have you asked for any more information before that?

CATHERINE KING: That has been ongoing constantly, so that is constantly been happening basically on a weekly basis.

JOURNALIST: Can we ask Minister Horne a question please? The Health Workers Union said that there will be protests and potentially beds out of order in January, given an ongoing dispute. What is government’s reaction to that, and is there any support going to be given to those workers?

MELISSA HORNE: So first and foremost, I would like to thank every single healthcare worker that is out there on the front line every single day, saving the lives of Victorians. They do such an important role. And I do know that the Minister for Health is working very closely with the Health Workers Union to be able to bed down their EBA and to resolve this issue.

But can I also say that yesterday I was at the new Footscray hospital, where they are training up to 400 healthcare workers every single day, as we get ready for the opening of that on 18 February next year. And the excitement of those healthcare workers going into their brand new hospital, to be able to see those incredible facilities that they’re going to work in, it was really palpable. So the Victorian Government absolutely stands by healthcare workers and will continue to work with them to get their EBA done.

JOURNALIST: I know you said you’re getting closer trying to get to an agreement with them. Are you close to doing that? It sounds like they’re escalating.

MELISSA HORNE: Look, the Health Minister is in constant conversations with them to be able to get this resolved.

JOURNALIST: Do you accept that this will be a problem for the government in an election year, should it drag into January?

MELISSA HORNE: Well, I’m not here to talk about hypotheticals. What I can do is say that the health minister is working very closely with the union to be able to make sure that these workers who do such an important role are getting the remuneration and conditions that they deserve.

JOURNALIST: You say it’s a hypothetical though, but it’s- we are at the end of 2025. It’s only a couple of weeks away until we’re in an election year. Is that a problem for the government?

MELISSA HORNE: I’m not going to pre-empt the work that the health minister is doing.

JOURNALIST: If there are- if industrial action does ramp up in January and beds are limited, should Victorians be concerned about that, and will the government try to avoid that from happening?

MELISSA HORNE: Look, I have no further information about the work that the Health Minister is doing.

JOURNALIST: The Premier said on 3AW this morning when asked about the ongoing problem of potholes in Victorian roads, she seems to suggest that it's the weather's fault. Is that a genuine problem?

MELISSA HORNE: Well certainly back in 2022 we saw significant damage done to our road network as a result of the floodings. Most of that work has since been rectified, but that's also too why the Victorian Government has spent nearly a billion dollars last year and nearly a billion dollars this year to be able to repair our roads. Without a doubt- and you know, if we come back to the purpose of why we are here today, we have got bigger, heavier trucks on our road network than ever before, and they're doing a lot more damage to our roads. So that's why partnering with the Commonwealth to be able to get trucks off roads, get freight onto rail is such an important part of that story too.

JOURNALIST: This is not a problem that's unique to Victoria. There's trucks on every road around Australia, and there's weather- obviously bad weather all around Australia. Why are potholes a problem in Victoria?

MELISSA HORNE: Well, they’re a problem across the country, but that is why the Victorian- the Allan Labor Government is investing a record amount of spending in repairing and resurfacing our roads.

JOURNALIST: Do you accept though that the condition of Victorian roads right now is unacceptable?

MELISSA HORNE: Look, there's always more work to be done, and that's why we're getting on with the job and we’ve got crews out across the network. And I'd like to thank each and every one of them for the important work that they do.

JOURNALIST: Minister, freight question. Just wondering about the impasse over the proposed removal of the Sunshine Regional Railway crossovers. There’s an alternative solution in sight, is there any progress on advancing that solution?

MELISSA HORNE: So just this week we had the final meeting of the Rail Freight Working Group, which has been a terrific collaborative piece of work where we've brought the departments and also industry together to be able to understand the way that freight moves around the network and also to the future needs. Because what we saw during the pandemic was, the disruption that occurred through our freight network was pretty vast. And subsequently since then, freight has changed significantly in the way that it moves. We've gone from a just-in-time to just-in-case sort of warehousing prospect. So understanding- being able to work with industry to understand their needs has been a really good thing, and we'll have something to say about that in coming months.

JOURNALIST: Just very quickly on property. Victoria's property sector has the least amount of confidence in the government compared to any other state or territory. Why is that?

MELISSA HORNE: So we’ve removed 65 taxes and charges in this sector over- as the course of the government. We're out there all the time building houses, making sure that our planning laws are fit for purpose. And what I would say is just recently we had in the parliament changes to our planning laws that are unlocking that sort of- the red tape that many businesses feel. Unfortunately, the new leader of the Liberal Party decided not to support these planning changes, which will see so much more value being unlocked.

JOURNALIST: There is an element of frustration in the housing sector, they’re standing up today, saying that they have the least amount of confidence with Victorian Government than any other state.

MELISSA HORNE: Look, we’ll continue to work with the Property Council and with the industry to be able to build those homes that Victorians need.

JOURNALIST: You say that on taxes, you’re reducing taxes, but Victoria still is the highest taxing state in Australia. Do you accept that there still needs to be more done in bringing investment into Victoria, and particularly with [indistinct] tax, how much Victorians are charged [indistinct]?

MELISSA HORNE: Look, we are the fastest growing economy of all the states here in Victoria, and we'll continue to work with the Property Council to be able to make sure that we're continuing to build those homes, but also to the warehousing and unlocking the industrial land that we need to support our growing economy.

CATHERINE KING: Thanks, everyone.