This was foreshadowed by Matthew Bach, the opposition spokesman for transport infrastructure and an avowed sceptic of the Suburban Rail Loop, when he beforehand introduced {that a} Coalition authorities would topic all main tasks costing $100 million to impartial audit.

As a substitute, Opposition Chief Matthew Man added an anticipated twist. The place he plans to take into November’s election is that, regardless of the deserves of the Suburban Rail Loop, it received’t be constructed till the disaster in Victoria’s hospital and well being system is resolved.

In impact, he invited voters to decide on between higher well being care or a brand new rail line. “That’s what this election is all about,” he stated.

Bach stated he supported this method. “We will need to have a singular deal with fixing the well being disaster,” he stated. “As soon as our well being system is not in a state of disaster, it might be potential to take a look at this rail line once more.”

The danger to the opposition is that, for voters who anticipate governments to supply for public well being care and public transport, it might sound like a false dichotomy. The Andrews authorities will little question supply Labor as the one get together promising to do each.

Loading

The disaster in Victoria’s well being system is actual and urgent. So is the necessity for state governments to think about and plan for the possible future form of Better Melbourne and its transport wants.

The issue with the Suburban Rail Loop is that, almost 4 years after it was introduced on Fb with a intelligent video and epic soundtrack, it’s nonetheless not clear whether or not it’s the greatest undertaking, for the cash it can price, to satisfy these wants.

That is the place the opposition’s argument must be; not on an imagined contest between getting a hospital mattress or a seat on a prepare.