Matthew Guy pledges to shelve $34.5bn rail project to invest in healthcare

Victorian election battle takes shape as opposition leader says fixing the broken health system' must be prioritised

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Victoria's opposition has pledged to shelve the $34.5bn first stage of Suburban Rail Loop, described as the biggest transport project in the state's history, if elected in November and reinvest that money in the health system.

State Coalition leader Matthew Guy made the announcement he would halt work on the first 26km of the project 101 days before voters go to the polls, setting the stage for another election turned referendum on infrastructure.