Victorians will pay dearly for Labor’s SRL disaster

Tuesday 6 October 2026

Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) must win the award for Australia’s worst-ever transport infrastructure project.

Former Premier Daniel Andrews announced the project on the eve of the 2018 state election, proposing a $50 billion cost.

The SRL was a “captain’s call” by Andrews and was never disclosed to Victoria’s transport department before its announcement because Andrews knew that the department would object.

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About the author

Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.