Labor's Tunnel Art Decision Under Fire
The Victorian Government faces criticism for commissioning Indigenous artwork on tunnel boring machines, even as families in the state deal with ongoing cost-of-living pressures. Critics view this decision as misplaced spending priorities amid financial strains.
Two Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) tunnel boring machines, valued at over $130 million and sourced from China, are adorned with the artwork titled ‘Footsteps of the Past’. These machines will carve tunnels between Glen Waverley and Box Hill, remaining underground and away from public view.
Family First Victorian candidate Jane Foreman strongly opposes the expenditure, calling it an insult to working Victorians already crushed by the weight of Labor’s debt and dysfunction. Foreman emphasised that funds could be better allocated to essential services like police, hospitals, and schools.
Public Spending Scrutiny
The SRL Authority claims the artwork incurred no additional costs, as it was part of the existing budget. Ms Foreman rejects this rationale, arguing that every dollar spent is funded by Victorian taxpayers. She demands an urgent review of discretionary spending in the SRL project.
Concerns over the broader culture of waste associated with the SRL project have been raised by Ms Foreman. She insists, “Victorians deserve honesty,” urging the government to be transparent about its spending decisions and not hide costs in budgets.
Family First calls on the Allan Government to ensure that public funds are used judiciously, prioritizing the welfare of families over symbolic gestures. The party advocates for a thorough review of the project’s expenditures to ensure accountability.
The SRL project, already the most expensive infrastructure project in Victoria’s history, has attracted controversy over its costs and delays. Ms Foreman emphasises the need for an urgent review and transparency, stating, “Victorians need to know every dollar is being spent wisely.”
Ms Foreman questions the belief that budgeted expenditures cost nothing additional, asserting, “The idea that something costs nothing just because it was already budgeted is exactly the kind of thinking that has put Victoria $200 billion in debt.”
Family First argues that governments must prioritise the wellbeing of families and communities above symbolic gestures and political optics. Ms Foreman calls on the Allan Government to conduct an urgent review of discretionary spending across the SRL project and report transparently to the public.
