Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen has responded to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s announcement that he would scrap the “cruel hoax” of federal funding of $2.2 billion for Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop.

Allen said in a press conference this morning that Victorians voted for the rail loop and her government didn’t have plans to scrap it.

“Well, it’s April Fools’ Day today but Peter Dutton’s cuts to Victoria are no joke,” she said. “Peter Dutton has announced today that he will cut funding to the vital projects that Victorians want, the projects that Victorians need, projects that support jobs,”

Dutton has instead announced plans for a Melbourne Airport Rail Link, promising $1.5 billion in funding for the project if Liberal is elected.

Dutton has said that this project will cut travel time from the city to the airport to half an hour and assist in the traffic on the Tullamarine Freeway.

“The Airport Rail Link is a long overdue piece of transport infrastructure vital to the future growth of Melbourne, and a Coalition government at both levels of representation will make it a reality,” he said.

The Suburban Rail Loop was planned to link a number of major train lines via Melbourne Airport and create “super hubs” at Clayton, Broadmeadows and Sunshine

Photo: Bombadier train Melbourne by Bernard Spragg found HERE and used under a Creative Commons license. This image has not been modified.