Guy stops short of promising bypass, Lovell slams Andrews’ ‘disingenuous’ comments

Last week in Victorian Parliament Mr Andrews said he would take the project before the new Federal Government following a question from Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed.

Mr Guy was speaking at Goulburn Valley Health on Tuesday to announce plans to fund a new cancer centre and the medical school, but when asked if he would take the neglected project to the government he said “not today”.

“Obviously infrastructure is also on our agenda — our priority will be health but there's certainly issues outside of Melbourne around funding that need to come up in the future,” he said.

He slammed the Victorian Government’s commitment to the suburban rail tunnel, saying he would expect the government to be too distracted with that project to focus on regional Victoria.

Ms Lovell said she didn’t believe the Premier would put the project before the Albanese Government.

“Daniel Andrews has had eight years to put the project before the Federal Government and he hasn’t,” she said.

Ms Lovell said a promised $10 million roundabout at the intersection of Ford Rd and Wanganui Rd, which would be the first phase of the bypass and was announced five years ago, hadn’t begun construction.

"Nobody's seen that business case,“ she said.

“We don't know what they've added into it. There's been speculation about figures in that case.

“The fact is the Premier’s had eight years to get this project off the ground and hasn't, and his latest comments are just disingenuous.”