By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A forum on Geelong’s public transport woes is a “hypocritical stunt” by two Liberal MPs, according to a state minister.
The Independent reported last week that state South Barwon MP Andrew Katos and federal Member for Corangamite Sarah Henderson had called the forum after a public outcry over timetable changes.
“The hypocrisy of this stunt by the Victorian and federal Liberals is astounding,” said a spokesperson for Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan.
“The Victorian Liberals ignored regional public transport for four years while in government and are supported by the federal Liberals, who refuse to invest in urban rail.
“Not only did the former Victorian Liberal Government not fund any major public transport infrastructure project, they also didn’t order a single V/Line carriage for two years and had a secret plan to sack 100 V/Line staff.
“The Andrews Labor Government has saved those jobs, delivered 200 extra train services to Geelong every week and ordered 21 extra V/Line carriages to carry hundreds of extra passengers on the Geelong line and across the regional train network.
“Instead of spouting platitudes to public transport users, Sarah Henderson and the federal Liberal government need to end its ideological opposition to public transport and invest in Victorian rail.“
Ms Henderson told the Independent last week the new Regional Rail Link was failing to live up to expectations.
She said results since the jointly funded federal/state project began in June had been unsatisfactory, with overcrowded trains and unreliable timetables.
Mr Katos said changes to bus routes and timetables had particularly impacted on the elderly and students.
“We want people to be constructive and offer solutions to fix the problems,” he said.
“This is not simply an exercise in bashing the government. We’re looking to be as constructive as possible.”
“As an opposition we are also thinking about future policy and will take note of all the feedback we are getting.”
Mr Katos said the high level of interest in the forum had prompted him to speak with rural and regional transport shadow parliamentary secretary Simon Ramsay about the potential for a second event in Geelong.
The forum will be at Burdoo Reserve, Grovedale, from 7pm Tuesday.
