Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management) (14:58): Senator Van knows full well, and I have already said, that our government has committed $2.2 billion towards this project. We know that the Victorian government has committed funding of its own. We know that this is a project that will take some time to complete. You know why it will take some time to complete? It's because the former government didn't want to invest in public transport infrastructure. So now we're getting on with the job of actually investing in this. It will take until 2035 to complete the project, and that will require future budget decisions. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Minister Watt, please resume your seat. I'm asking you to listen quietly, particularly senators on my left. Minister Watt, please resume. Senator McKenzie: It's not fully funded, is it? The PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, I've just asked for quiet, and you immediately interject again. Senator WATT: As I said, we know that for 10 years we had a government in Canberra that didn't want to invest in public transport infrastructure. That has changed. We now have an Albanese Labor government that is prepared to get behind big infrastructure projects that will help with public transport and relieve congestion. Senator McGrath interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator McGrath! Senator Sterle, on a point of order? Senator Sterle: If he's still going, President, I'll wait. Senator WATT: As I was saying, we're getting behind public transport infrastructure in Melbourne. Remember it was the last government that pulled out the funding for Cross River Rail in Brisbane as well. They didn't want to see public transport infrastructure there. Senator Birmingham interjectin g— Senator WATT: You were the finance minister. You could've got behind this, and you didn't do it. Senator Henderson: A point of order on misleading the Senate, the Albanese government didn't even fund the Great Ocean Road when they were last in government. The PRESIDENT: Senator Henderson, as I explained yesterday, there are many opportunities throughout the week in the Senate to debate points. That's a debating point. Senator WATT: It must hurt the opposition, especially those Victorians who fought tooth and nail against this project, but we're going to get this project done, because we want to relieve congestion in Melbourne, just like we want to relieve it in Brisbane and Sydney— Senator McKenzie interjecting— Senator WATT: and even provincial cities, Senator McKenzie. (Time expired)