Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The project, which would cater for an extra 20,000 commuters an hour, is seen as a crucial precursor to other transport projects, including a proposed rail extension to the airport and new lines to Doncaster and Rowville. Federal Labor has promised $3 billion would come from the Commonwealth with the remainder expected to come from the state and the private sector. The $75 million of federal money was included in the May budget, with the bulk of the funding earmarked for the end of the decade. Transport Minister Terry Mulder has described the metro project as the most crucial piece of public transport infrastructure for the state, saying it would require substantial federal funds to build. Mr Abbott has previously said the Commonwealth should 'stick to its knitting' and fund road projects not commuter rail.

He has promised $1.5 billion for the east-west link, while Labor pledged $3 billion for the rail project, most of it towards the end of the decade. The rail project has been assessed by Infrastructure Australia as a higher priority than the east-west link project. The Coalition's list of savings measures confirm the money pledged by the Commonwealth for the project will be cut, with the withdrawal of $25 million in 2015-16 and $50 million in 2016-17. The $1.5 billion promised by Mr Abbott for the east-west link will be funded directly through cuts to the foreign aid budget. State Treasurer Michael O'Brien said the Coalition "warmly welcomes" the $1.5 billion commitment to the road link, describing Labor's promise of $3 billion for the metro tunnel as "a mirage". "The Victorian Coalition government is committed to delivering both the east-west link and the Melbourne Metro," Mr O'Brien said. "We will continue to work with the federal government, regardless of its persuasion, to secure funding for this vital piece of infrastructure when it is ready to proceed."

Loading Greens MP for Melbourne Adam Bandt accused Mr Abbott of taking money from the world's poorest people to "drive a polluting tollway through the middle of Melbourne". "Tony Abbott must come clean and tell us which people will lose health services and food to fund this polluting tollway," he said.