The Hon. Annabelle Cleeland, The Nationals Member for Euroa, 1 December 2025

The Nationals Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland MP, has criticised the Allan Labor Government for designing the Metro Tunnel around Melbourne priorities while leaving regional Victorians to battle difficult, impractical connections.

Ms Cleeland said new travel information for the Albury line confirms passengers arriving at Southern Cross will now need two separate transfers to reach Parkville Station, despite the station aimed at improving access to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

“This is exactly what happens when a major project is designed with Melbourne in mind and regional people are an afterthought,” Ms Cleeland said.

“A system that forces regional patients to juggle multiple train changes is inaccessible and creates a major barrier to the health care they need.”

Ms Cleeland shared the experience of a North East parent who travels with her severely disabled adult son for treatment and had expected the new Parkville Station to ease lifesaving appointments, only to find the new station would make the trip more difficult.

With parking at Royal Melbourne Hospital full most mornings, Ms Cleeland said regional families had no choice but to rely on public transport for specialised care they cannot access locally.

“Labor promised easier access to our major hospitals, yet regional Victorians have been left out of the design again,” Ms Cleeland said.

“It is unacceptable that country patients are forced through a complex, multi-transfer journey just to reach the care they need.”

Ms Cleeland is calling on the Government to urgently review regional connections and deliver a direct, seamless public transport link into the Metro Tunnel.

“Our communities deserve fair and practical access to Melbourne’s hospitals, not a confusing transport maze created by a city-first design,” she said.