Public transport

Australians pay as Labor digs a hole for itself on tax

Blog Post | Blog of Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 22nd November 2011, 8:55am
by ParisLord in

The "year of decision and delivery" is quickly coming to an end and the Prime Minister is determined to get the government's mining tax passed through the House of Representative this week before the summer break of Parliament. The Senate would then deal with the legislation when Parliament resumes in 2012.

Australians pay as Labor digs a hole for itself on tax

Blog Post | Blog of Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 22nd November 2011, 8:54am
by ParisLord in

The "year of decision and delivery" is quickly coming to an end and the Prime Minister is determined to get the government's mining tax passed through the House of Representative this week before the summer break of Parliament. The Senate would then deal with the legislation when Parliament resumes in 2012.

Feds should not fund Baillieu tunnel

Media Release | Spokesperson Adam Bandt MP
Thursday 17th November 2011, 8:59am
in

Greens MP Adam Bandt has warned the Gillard government against funding a tollway tunnel through his electorate of Melbourne.


He has also described the Premier as an "environmental vandal" in wanting to push ahead with the tunnel.


Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu is set to announce a new infrastructure strategy today and has flagged that the controversial East-West tunnel, first mooted under the former Labor government, will be on the list.


"I will not let them dig up my electorate", Mr Bandt said.


"The Premier is an environmental vandal and has given up any pretence of tackling climate change."


"I will fight tooth and nail to stop one single dollar of Commonwealth money going towards a privatised road tunnel through the middle of Melbourne."


"With energy experts telling us we have 5 years to stop runaway climate change, it's time for Melbourne to build more rail, not more tollways."


"The proposed tunnel will wreck parkland and turn inner Melbourne into a rat's nest of on- and off-ramps."


"The road tunnel was hatched under Labor and is now being suckled by the Coalition. But it is economically unviable without a massive federal government subsidy."


"I would find it very difficult to have a constructive relationship with a federal government that funded an economically unviable and environmentally disastrous tollway through the middle of my electorate."


"I will push instead for the Federal government to fund rail projects like the proposed Metro link or the Doncaster rail line."


To date, the federal government has not stated any position on the tunnel.


 

Major Cities Unit - Liveable cities, National Urban policy and Active Transport

Estimates Transcripts
Tuesday 25th October 2011, 2:00pm
in

Senate Estimates - Rural Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee - 18/10/2011
Department of Infrastructure and Transport - Major Cities Unit


Liveable Cities program


Senator LUDLAM: Thank you for presenting. I am a little bit cross that we still are no closer to guidelines for liveable cities. I think at different stages you both said they will be released shortly. How long is 'shortly'? We have played this game once already.


Mr Mrdak : We have played this game once before. I think that they will be in the very near future.


Senator LUDLAM: Is that days rather than weeks?

Growing demand for public transport must fuel real budget reform

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Thursday 20th October 2011, 1:00pm
in

The Australian Greens today welcomed the announcement of the Liveable Cities Program, designed to encourage sustainable urban development and called for further funding reforms to meet Australia's booming demand for public and active transport.


"This is a tiny, $20 million down-payment on more liveable, prosperous and sustainable cities. It will offer grants of up to $500,000 for innovative planning and design initiatives and up to four million dollars for demonstration projects. It is a good initiative, but we are long past time for prototypes and pilot projects," said Greens sustainable cities and transport spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.

Wi-Fi on Perth buses and trains would boost public transport

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Monday 5th September 2011, 5:08pm
in

WA Greens have called for free Wi-Fi internet connection on public transport in Perth to encourage more people to leave their cars at home.


Greens Federal transport spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said free wi fi would make public transport more practical and more appealing for commuters, especially people travelling to and from work.


"Being able to work online to and from your place of work would be a big bonus for a lot of people," he said. "Greater public transport use is a key element to reducing congestion and pollution and this would attract more people to the public system."


Free Wi-Fi has been trialled in other States and has been very popular.


Greens WA transport spokesperson Lynn MacLaren MLC said wi fi could be part of a comprehensive public transport reform plan.


"We need to see the public transport system expanded and improved, and light rail will be an important part of that, but free wi fi would be a relatively cheap and simple factor in getting more people out of traffic jams and on to public transport," she said. "We urge the State Government to investigate the viability of this plan - they'll find it will be a worthwhile investment."



Media contact: Giovanni Torre - 0417 174 302


 

Perth people to stand up for public transport

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Friday 26th August 2011, 4:20pm
in

Perth people will make their views on WA's public transport heard in a series of community meetings throughout the city, starting on Monday in Edgewater.


The Greens are facilitating a community response to the State Government's 20 year public transport plan, which leaves huge gaps in the north-west, eastern and southern corridors.

High speed rail on the 7pm Project

Greens TV | Spokesperson Adam Bandt MP
Friday 5th August 2011, 10:40am
in

Adam Bandt joins the 7PM Project on the day the Government releases a $20 million study into high speed rail. The study was a precondition of the Greens and Adam supporing the Government.

Fast rail needs to go far: Bandt

Media Release | Spokesperson Adam Bandt MP
Wednesday 3rd August 2011, 3:13pm
in

Greens MP Adam Bandt has warned the government against thinking small, as it prepares to release a study into high speed rail for the east coast on Thursday.

Travel behaviour change programs

Question | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Friday 22nd July 2011, 4:12pm
in

Question No. 439

Senator Ludlam asked the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, upon notice, on 16 March 2011:

With reference to travel behaviour change programs:
(1) How many positions are currently employed within the department specifically related to encouraging active transport, such as walking and cycling.
(2) Can information be provided outlining the history of funding and the national approach to travel behaviour change programs.
(3) Can an outline be provided of the current pool of funding and resources for a nationally coordinated approach to travel behaviour change programs, for example: (a) are there dedicated TravelSmart behaviour change programs within each state and territory; and (b) how does the Commonwealth invest in them.
(4) To what extent is investment in active transport infrastructure, as a conditional requirement of all Commonwealth funded urban road and passenger transport projects, being promoted within the department, including, for example, shared/cycling paths, end of trip facilities and public transport nodes.
(5) Transport behaviour change programs bring together a range of mutual benefits for our transport and health systems - with the new Australian National Preventive Health Agency established in 2010, has there been any effort to link these common agendas; if so, how; if not, why not.