Labor’s $333.5M road upgrade sparks criticism over timing and trust.
The Labor government’s announcement of a $333.5 million investment into two road upgrades in Melbourne’s west—the Werribee Main Road–Princes Freeway Interchange Upgrade and the Ballan Road Intersection Upgrade—has been met with sharp criticism, with opposition figures questioning the timing and credibility of the promises.
Advertisement
Speaking in Werribee today, Liberal candidate Stephen Murphy accused the government of making politically motivated promises in a seat that has been a Labor stronghold for years. “It’s amazing how when everything starts to get tight, it’s been a safe Labor seat for so long, but all of a sudden polls are showing weakening Labor support that all of a sudden they can find money to promise things,” Murphy said.
Murphy also highlighted concerns about the government’s track record of unfulfilled commitments, referencing past promises that remain incomplete. “With what they’ve promised today, how can you trust that it’s going to be done? They promised six years ago to electrify the railway line from Werribee to Wyndham Vale. There’s a couple of pylons up there, but nothing else has happened,” he said.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin echoed Murphy’s scepticism, casting doubt on the government’s ability to deliver on these latest commitments. “Those media releases aren’t worth the paper they are written on,” Battin said. “What we’re seeing again is them trying to say, ‘We’re going to invest in your community,’ as all of a sudden polls close here in the Werribee electorate. But I guarantee you, what happens after the election and pre-election will be two totally different things.”
These criticisms tap into growing frustration among residents of Melbourne’s west, many of whom feel neglected despite repeated promises from the Labor government. While the upgrades are touted as a way to reduce congestion, improve safety, and create over 1,600 jobs, scepticism is rife given Labor’s history of project delays, budget blowouts, and incomplete infrastructure work.
Past projects, such as the delayed electrification of the railway and the troubled West Gate Tunnel Project, have contributed to this mistrust. For residents, the challenge remains ensuring these newly announced road upgrades are not just another election-time promise but are delivered on time and within budget.
The pressure is now on the Labor government to prove these announcements are more than just a pre-election strategy, particularly in an electorate that is beginning to show signs of waning support for the party.
