Allan Hails Metro Tunnel Opening as Labor Kicks Off 2026 Election Campaign
MELBOURNE, 30 November 2025: Premier Jacinta Allan and her third-term Labor government seized the day as Melbourne’s the eight years in the making Metro Tunnel finally opened to the public, with five new underground stations and a major campaign launch marking one year until the 2026 state election.
On the same day the Coalition opposition announced its new Shadow Cabinet under leader Jess Wilson, Labor framed the tunnel’s opening as a signature achievement and a springboard for a historic fourth term.
Metro Tunnel opens, election countdown begins
The Metro Tunnel, a $15 billion project, opened to passengers on Sunday with limited services through twin 9‑km tunnels and five state-of-the-art stations: Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall and Anzac. Full integration into the network, with more than 1,000 extra weekly services, is set for 1 February 2026.
At a “one year out” campaign-style rally, Allan declared the tunnel a “world-class” transformation of Melbourne’s transport, promising reliable public transport, new jobs and economic growth. She contrasted Labor’s record with the Coalition’s past stance, noting that federal Liberals had refused to fund the project and dismissed it as a “hoax” and “disaster”.
Allan’s campaign pitch
Speaking to a large Labor crowd of MPs, unionists, volunteers and supporters, Allan focused on defending the government’s record and outlining priorities for Victoria’s future. She framed Labor’s campaign around its foundational principles: “families, workers, opportunity, and fairness,” arguing the party is “fighting to protect” these amid economic pressures.
She pledged continued support for working families through policies on housing affordability, energy security and job creation, while sharply criticising the Coalition’s past governance. Allan accused the Liberals of “swinging the axe” on essential services — closing TAFE campuses, hospitals and youth programs — and warned that a Coalition return would reverse Labor’s progress.
Policy agenda and contrasts with Coalition
Allan reaffirmed Labor’s commitment to tougher youth crime measures, including adult sentences for violent offences by 14‑year‑olds, and to advancing Indigenous treaty negotiations. The government also plans to promote higher-density housing near transport hubs to tackle the housing crisis and to legislate work‑from‑home rights to support flexible employment.
She used the rally to contrast Labor’s vision with the Coalition’s, positioning the next year as a battle for Victoria’s “better future” and promising “no one left behind” in the party’s agenda.
Coalition’s response
Ironically, on the same day Labor celebrated a major infrastructure win, the Coalition announced its Shadow Cabinet under Jess Wilson, who said the opposition would spend the next 12 months listening to Victorians, developing tangible policy solutions and earning community trust.
The Coalition’s press release made no mention of the Metro Tunnel opening, reflecting its long-standing criticism of the project. Wilson’s leadership team is now focused on building a credible alternative government ahead of the 28 November 2026 election, when Labor will seek an unprecedented fourth consecutive term.
Leadership reset
Allan’s speech was met with a standing ovation from Labor supporters and widely seen as a reset moment for her leadership, shifting from the shadow of Daniel Andrews to a confident campaign for a fourth term. With the Metro Tunnel now open and the election exactly one year away, the government is betting that major infrastructure and a focus on everyday Victorians will carry it through to 2026.
