Acting Chairperson of the ETC, Cr Alex Makin has called on the major parties to commit to federal funding of public transport given the clear community desire to see action in reducing the impacts of climate change.

“The new Federal Government has been elected on a platform of providing ‘appropriate financial assistance to State governments to improve and extend public transport systems in urban areas’ and we will campaign to see funding allocated to meet that commitment.

“As a first step we will meet the newly elected Federal members in our area and outline why federal funding is needed, looking in particular at the specific needs of Melbourne’s eastern and southeastern suburbs.

“As evidenced in a survey of 1000 voters, commissioned by the Australian Research Group, the majority of people believe that the Federal Government should consider funding major additions to urban public transport in the same manner it funds roads.

“We will continue to hold the State Government accountable and seek cooperation between the Federal Government to improve our urban public transport systems.

“We want the State Government to ask the Federal Government to include public transport in the AusLink program. This was a policy of the State Government in 2006 and we want to see them return to it.

“The ETC will be developing a submission that examines potential models for federal involvement in public transport infrastructure; we expect both the State and Federal Governments to support this initiative.

“Climate change was a key issue in the recent federal election. Any successful strategy to combat climate change must involve federal funding of public transport.

We call on the incoming government to live up to this commitment and for the opposition to reconsider its policies in regard to urban sustainability,” Cr Alex Makin concluded.

Acting Chairperson of the ETC, Cr Alex Makin has said the ETC has been underwhelmed by the responses from the major political parties to the need for improved public transport in the east.

“Voters in these key electorates also think that the Federal Government should fund public transport infrastructure in the same way they do roads.

“Voters want better public transport to reduce congestion, save money and help the environment.

“Our survey of 1000 voters found that more than four out of five respondents (83%) said that the issue of public transport infrastructure would be of importance when deciding who they would vote for in the next Federal election.

“And yet the political parties have provided only a mixed bag of responses, some good and some bad.

“While the Liberal Party has said that they will not entertain a role for federal involvement, it has been encouraging that La Trobe MP Jason Wood has agreed there is a need. Likewise the $80 million for Springvale Road provides a model that should be expanded to include public transport projects.

“The ALP, through candidate for Aston, Gerry Raleigh, has said that they promise a ‘national approach to fixing public transport in our community’. While this is a positive statement, the eastern suburbs need a financial commitment to make this a reality”.

“The Greens for instance have said that 25 per cent of Auslink funds should be used on mass transport systems. This is a stance the ETC supports and we note that the State Government advocated for public transport to be included last year.

“Federal Government funding for public transport would allow us to build rail to Rowville, rail to Doncaster or increase the number of train services on the Belgrave / Lilydale lines.

“With growing congestion on our roads, skyrocketing petrol costs and the impact of climate change – it doesn’t matter who gets elected they are going to have to include public transport in their plans.

“The ETC will continue to fight for better public transport in the east and for the Federal Government to have a role in public transport infrastructure,” Cr Alex Makin concluded.

For more information please contact;

ETC Acting Chairperson Cr Alex Makin 0408 311 645
CPR Communications, Robert Larocca 0409 198 350

Chairperson of the Eastern Transport Coalition, Cr Mick Van De Vreede has said today that the ETC
will talk to voters at a number of railways stations and bus stops tomorrow to argue the case for
Federal Government funding of major public transport infrastructure.

“The following representatives of the ETC will be at four railway stations and one bus stop early
Friday morning;

• Cr Mick Van De Vreede (Knox)
• Cr Grace La Vella (Manningham)
• Cr Karin Orpen (Knox)
• Cr Alex Makin (Maroondah)
• Cr Samantha Dunn (Yarra Ranges)

“We will be talking to commuters and giving them a leaflet, encouraging them to think about public
transport when they vote, and specifically three projects;

• Rail to Doncaster
• Third track / duplication of the Belgrave / Lilydale line
• Rail to Rowville

“Each of these projects would increase the number of people using public transport and in doing so
help improve the environment, reduce congestion and save families money,” Cr Mick Van De Vreede
concluded.

For more information please contact;

ETC Chairperson Cr Mick Van De Vreede 0438 029 932
CPR Communications, Robert Larocca 0409 198 350