Letter to the Editor - The Frankston Times - 7 April 2020

As published in the Frankston Times, 7 April 2020

It’s always disappointing when a politician plays silly political games, let alone during a national health and economic crisis. Paul Edbrooke’s comments in ‘Rail extension at a ‘standstill’’ (The Times, 30/3/20) is game-playing at its worst.

Edbrooke knows that the state government-prepared preliminary business case (PBC) for the Frankston rail extension was submitted to the Morrison Government six months late and that it is now being actively considered. Since the Federal Government received the PBC in late October, it has been dealing with the drought, bushfires and now COVID-19.

As everyone knows, we have a budgeted commitment of $225 million for this project on top of the existing $4 million for the PBC. We want this rail extension, but cannot do it without buy-in and engagement from the State Government.

In a twist of irony, Edbrooke has achieved nothing towards getting his government to contribute one cent to the project. Considering our government funded his government to write the PBC, one would assume Edbrooke has seen it, and might assume the reason he hasn’t leaked it is so that he has fodder for his foolish games.

Interestingly, the project he has spruiked in the past, the redevelopment of the Frankston Hospital, hasn’t progressed since it was announced two years ago. Out of the $562 billion the State Government announced at the 2018 state election, only $6 million has been budgeted this financial year, and construction continues to be kicked down the line. Contrastingly, the Morrison Government is getting on with the job of delivering a $32 million Health Futures Hub and $10 million paediatric ward at Frankston Hospital without any state contribution.

Rather than playing the fool, Edbrooke should get his government to commit to funding its share of the Frankston rail extension.