Where is the North East Link advisory group report?
This week I asked the Planning Minister for a timeline on the release of the independent advisory group (IAG) report on the North East Link project. Public hearings on the project’s Environmental Effects Statement concluded on 16 September, with the IAG required to present its report on more than 850 submissions and six weeks of hearings to the Minister within 30 days, but the report has yet to be made public.
Award winning intern reports
We hosted two Parliamentary Interns this year with great success. Georgia Bishop’s business case to include Doncaster in Stage 1 of the Suburban Rail Loop won the Presiding Officers Award for most outstanding intern report. Nakshi Mehta’s report on the Rowville Rail project was the runner up.
MEMBERS – Walk to the Valley 2019
My members statement this week drew the upper houses attention to the Walk to the Valley 2019 event this coming weekend to raise awareness and funds to support education to end the coward punch.
UPDATE – VH plates back on the market
VH plates are again available for all vehicles that are registered to provide booked services only with Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria.
The battle to end the dangerous practise of touting in Victoria
When the Commercial Passenger Vehicle Reform Bill was introduced in August 2017, one of the most dangerous changes was the removal of the offence for touting. Rod Barton will debate a private members bill this week to reinstate these offence and end touting in Victoria.
UPDATE – SMARTbuses for rail loop
This week we received a response from Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne regarding Rod’s question about adding SMARTbuses to the suburban rail loop route to combat public transport gaps.
COMMERCIAL PASSENGER VEHICLE INDUSTRY AMENDMENT BILL 2019 – second reading speech
View and read the transcript of Rods second reading speech to the Legislative Council for the Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry Amendment Bill 2019 to reintroduce the offence of touting in Victoria. This bill will be debated on November 13, 2019.
Free public transport for seniors
Rod spoke to 3AW’s Neil Mitchel last week about why public transport should be free for seniors and students.
Cameras in cars make everyone safer
Even Sandeep “the creep” knows cameras in cars make everyone safer.
UPDATE – NELP lawyers response to hearing submissions
After seven weeks of hearings, more than 850 public submissions and thousands of pages of arguments from lawyers, the independent planning panel examining the government’s North Eastlink Toll Road Project has retired to prepare its report on the project’s future.
Through its lawyers, the North East Link Project Authority systematically rejected almost every issue and alternative idea raised during the EES process claiming that the reference design and the proposed management plans represent the best outcome for the state.