By Ann Marie Angebrandt
ONFRIDAY he was a first-time Labor candidate.
On Saturday he was the new Member of Parliament for Tarneit.
On Tuesday he was a member of the Victorian Cabinet.
And on Wednesday he was named minister for one of the State Government’s most important departments, with responsibilities for a multi-billion-dollar budget and mega-projects that could take decades to build.
Such is the remarkable tale of the first days in politics for the Premier’s former chief-of-staff Tim Pallas now Victoria’s Minister for Roads and Ports.
His lightning-fast ascendancy as one of the government’s star recruits is unusual, he admits, but part of long-held aspirations to hold political office.
“I didn’t want to ease into this,” he said. “I want all the work and responsibility that can be thrown my way.”
After 20 years behind the scenes in Labor politics and the trade union movement, Mr Pallas, 46, said he was “awestruck” by the chance to represent the community.
His move to a high profile portfolio can only be good for the electorate, he said.
“Having a minister as the representative doesn’t mean an immediate advantage, but it does mean a better recognition of the issues that affect the community,” he said.
“If I can add my voice to those issues – especially its substantial growth – then hopefully that would provide a better outcome for the community in the long term.”
Mr Pallas, who is aligned with the party’s right-wing and the National Union of Workers, said he was thrilled to be responsible for the state’s roads because they were a key area residents look at when judging the government’s performance.
“Everyone at some point is affected by transport infrastructure and people see its delivery as a sign of the government’s capacity to deliver more broadly.”
Two of the biggest projects the Williamstown resident will manage are Port Phillip’s channel deepening and a possible new east-west crossing for Melbourne.
The government sees the first as critical to Victoria’s long-term economic future and unless an economic impact statement says otherwise, it will go ahead.
But the east-west crossing, which would help unlock Wyndham’s peak-hour traffic gridlock, might not even be needed, he said.
Several groups, including Wyndham City Council, were disappointed plans for a second east-west connection were not in the government’s 10-year $10 billion transport blueprint released earlier this year.
“We’ll soon start identifying people’s needs, where it would start and where it would end, and ascertaining whether in fact there is even a need for such a project.”
Mr Pallas is also keen to get work moving on the Surf Coast section of the Geelong bypass and will press the Federal Government to match the $62 million the state Government has committed to the project.
“The Premier pulled me aside and said the number one priority is to get straight on the coast project,” he said.
In his new role, Mr Pallas has traded his office next door to the Premier for at least three new work sites across Melbourne.
He’ll have an executive office with the Department of Infrastructure in Nauru House, a community office in Station Place Werribee for residents to call in, and one in Parliament House.
He’ll also be a regular visitor to Kew, where he is now in charge of all VicRoads projects.
The father-of-two expects to make his maiden speech between 19 and 21 December before Parliament breaks for he year.
“The custom is you can’t be heckled on the first speech but after that you’re fair game,” he said.
“I’m more than ready.”
