Transport minister defends SRL with the signing of first contract

The first major works contract for part of the suburban rail loop has been signed marking the SRL as Victoria’s most expensive project.

Minister for transport infrastructure, Danny Pearson, has defended the decision to go ahead with the loop despite heavy opposition.

“This project is vitally important because by 2050, we’ll have the population the size of London, and when you have got really big cities like that, you need to have those orbital movements around the city,” he told Heidi Murphy.

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He also revealed the contract includes a “pain share, gain share” but did not confirm if a “get out” clause existed.

“What I’ll say on this point is that we are committed to delivering this project … and the only people who will try and stop or cancel this contract will be the Liberal Party in John Pesutto,” he said.

Image: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images.