New analysis of Victoria's Suburban Rail Loop suggests the project's cost could outweigh its benefit as the state's opposition launches another attack on the government over the scheme.
Victoria's independent Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) has released more of its assessment of the project, after being asked to evaluate the rail loop by the Victorian opposition.
The PBO found the first two stages of the project had a benefit-cost ratio between 0.6 and 0.7, indicating it was likely to result in a net social cost.
The office released analysis earlier this month which found the overall cost of the Suburban Rail Loop would be far greater than originally estimated by the government.
The Victorian opposition said it would put the project on hold and divert funding towards rebuilding the state's health system.
Shadow Treasurer David Davis said the new analysis from the PBO validates the opposition's plan to shelve the project if it wins the state election in November.
"The net benefit to the community is under the net cost. It's a negative outcome project in that respect, a dud project, a project that doesn't deliver for Victorians in the way we would expect," he said.
"We've said that the project should be shelved. We've said that the money should be redirected into our crumbling healthcare system, a healthcare system that has seen the triple-0 service repeatedly fail Victorians and has seen inadequate capacity in our hospitals."
Victoria's Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the government was committed to the project.
"Matthew Guy and the Liberals are saying they will cut the Suburban Rail Loop, cut the jobs, cut the connections that come with delivering a project like this and are trying to create a false choice," she said.
"It isn't hospitals or train lines, you have to do both in government."
Premier Daniel Andrews said it was not a matter of choosing the rail project at the expense of the health system.
"Whatever a government doesn't build is left to the next government and it always costs more and it's always more difficult," he said.
"If you stop a project that is underway and critically important, well, that's not the way we operate."
Government announces free midwifery training
The Andrews government has announced more than 10,000 nursing and midwifery students will have their training paid for as part of a recruitment drive.
All new students enrolling in a nursing or midwifery course in 2023 and 2024 will receive a scholarship of up to $16,500 to cover course costs.
Students will receive $9,000 while they study and a further $7,500 if they work in Victoria's public health system for two years.
There are also scholarships for postgraduate nurses to complete studies in intensive care, emergency, paediatrics and cancer care, along with funding to help enrolled nurses become registered nurses.
Mr Andrews said it was part of a $270 million boost to the health system.
"To our Year 11 and Year 12 students: choose nursing, become a nurse, be part of this amazing health system, be part of this profession," he said.
"This is such a rewarding way work, to make a living and you will be respected, you will be supported all the way through."
