[Greens-Media] Media Release: Victorians face a dismal four year spend on public transport say the Greens

[Media]

Media Release: for immediate use
May 18, 2006
Contact: Bill Pemberton (mob) 0428 636 316

Victorians face a dismal four year spend on public transport say the Greens

The reality behind the Victorian Government's transport hype is 
sobering.  A deeper dig into the statement released by the Premier Mr 
Bracks yesterday reveals  the Government plans to spend comparatively 
little on public transport between now and 2010.

"There is very little in short term improvement for the state's public 
transport service in this statement. It focuses mostly on buses and 
there is very little for trains," said Bill Pemberton, Greens Transport 
spokesperson.

The figures in yesterday's statement reveals that only a third, or less 
than $4billion of the $10.4 billion promised for public transport is to 
be spent over the next four years. Of this:
only 16% , or $620 million,  will be spent on new public transport 
services. This will be mostly on buses and will provide very few 
additional train services
only 27%, or about $1 billion, will be spent on new public transport 
infrastructure, such as duplicated new rail lines, some signalling and 
other systems.  No new train or tram rolling stock purchased over this 
period.

However, the biggest single slab, or 42%, will go on roads.

"Unfortunately, the average commuter will not notice any difference for 
years and years to come. The people who are packed in like sardines on 
every peak hour train have been offered virtually nothing by Mr Bracks," 
said Bill Pemberton. "Furthermore, we still don't know how much of the 
promised funding is new money or merely dollars recycled from existing 
programs. We will have to wait another two weeks for the state budget to 
find an answer to this."

"The Greens in parliament  will work for an immediate start rail to 
extension projects in Melbourne's north, east and west. People in these 
areas have had enough of the Government's failed rail promises,"said 
Bill Pemberton.

For more information, contact
Bill Pemberton (mob) 0428 636 316

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