Media Release – New Tax on Electric Vehicles Will Stall Emission Reductions in Transport Sector

The Government should be encouraging the uptake of electric vehicles, not introducing a tax that does the complete opposite.

Media Release – Repair the Past

‘The Commercial Passenger Vehicle reforms have torn through marriages, families and friendships in a way that only profound financial stress, inequality and uncertainty can. The government must step in and release this pressure.’  

Media Release – Free Tram Expansion …. Denied!

The minority report recognises the struggle of our most vulnerable seniors and students; identifies the need to create an accessible and high-capacity tram network; and the benefits the Free Tram Zone creates for tourism, students, seniors, local residents, and our CBD.

Inquiry into expanding Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone – Report

I urge the Andrews Labor government to recognise that it is not the free tram zone that is the problem but an ageing tram network that is poorly managed and lacking accessibility, high-capacity trams and the sufficient collection of data.

Streamlined application for driver accreditation

Rod asked the government to step in and ensure an efficient and streamlined application process for driver accreditation by the CPPV is implemented in the interest of fairness.

Asking for justice: repair the suffering, pain and loss caused by the 2017 reforms.

Asking for Justice…Rod moved for the government to acknowledge that taxi licences were valuable items of property and to repair the damage of past reforms.

Members Statement – Reflection

Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (10:00): Last Friday I was having a moment of reflection, asking myself many questions after many weeks of personal abuse and asking myself: why am I here? Through that process I was wondering why I am not sitting on a Western Australian beach camped with my dog in my caravan with the bride. Why am I being here? But late in that day I received a text message and I thought, ‘Why won’t they leave me alone?’. But it was a very important text message. It was from a mother called Janet, mother of Alexia. She sent me a copy of a birth certificate. They were so excited because it was an amended birth certificate, something that we did in this Parliament a while ago. That made an old bloke cry, it made me stop thinking about a beach in Western Australia. I want to reflect: I am glad we do this sort of stuff.

Members Statement

A reflection….

Motion – Repairing the Past

Today Rod read in his motion which he will debate in the Upper House tomorrow afternoon.

Notice of Motion 24th November 2020

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I give notice that, on the next day of meeting, I will move —

That this House —

• acknowledges that —
• in 1998, the High Court of Australia determined that a taxi licence was a valuable item of property;
• since the commencement of the Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry Act 2017, the revocation of perpetual Victorian taxi and hire car licences amounted to a compulsory government asset acquisition;
• the revocation of perpetual Victorian taxi and hire car licences for a fraction of their worth constitutes as a breach of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006;
• arbitrary transition assistance payments in lieu of some, but not all, perpetual Victorian taxi and hire car licences was grossly inadequate and unfair;
• the deregulation of the industry in 2017 has —
• created a glut of commercial passenger vehicles on our roads;
• reduced driver income to well below minimum wage;
• threatened the economic viability of the industry;
• caused worsening traffic congestion;
• calls on the Andrews Government to —

(a)   accept a financial proposal to properly compensate the industry for the compulsory asset acquisition of all perpetual Victorian taxi and hire car licences;

(b)   make adjustments to the commercial passenger vehicle industry structure to better balance market components and end driver exploitation; and

(c)   support a recovery plan to build back and move the commercial passenger vehicle industry forward through COVID-19.

Question – Food Delivery Rider Safety

These incidents are becoming all to frequent, these gig economy delivery companies have a duty of care to ensure their riders are competent as well as equipped with quality helmets, safety jackets and their scooters are in a roadworthy state

The Government might think it’s over…….it’s not!

The implementation of the transition assistance payments and fairness fund failed to address the economic suffering of those in the industry and had inequitable consequences.

Suburban Rail Loop

The Suburban Rail Loop project is an important public transport infrastructure project that will better connect Victoria’s hospitals, universities, and retail industries

Victorian Agriculture

Victorian farmers have had to manage a range of issues around the coronavirus as logistics and supply chains have been disrupted

Taxi Drivers – Fair Pay?

This week, Rod asked the Premier about the treatment of Essential Transport Workers.

Thursday 12th November 2020

Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (12:42): My constituency question is for the Premier. Taxi fares in Victoria have not increased since 2014, and there have been a number of reviews. Taxidrivers are essential transport workers, as has been demonstrated during this pandemic. They receive no holiday pay, no sick pay, no superannuation and no maternity leave, and many have been known to work for less than $10 an hour—well below the minimum wage. The Essential Services Commission sets these fares, and it is interesting to note the executives at the Essential Services Commission in the same period have received a pay increase of 24.5 per cent. The information I seek is: what is the justification for this unfair treatment of these essential transport workers?

Parks and Crown Land Legislation Amendment Bill 2019

This Bill proposes significant benefits for the local wildlife—the indigenous flora and fauna—and enables the local community to enjoy, experience and learn about nature in a safe and regulated format.

Green New Deal

It is no surprise that I support changing Victoria’s perspective towards public transport, investing in clean technology and reducing homelessness, and therefore I support this motion wholeheartedly.

Question – Proposition 22

Is the government going to let Uber get away with undermining our state’s conception of an employee and the essential rights that come with it?

Justice Legislation Amendment (Supporting Victims and Other Matters) Bill 2020

Rod rose to speak on the Justice Legislation Amendment (Supporting Victims and Other Matters) Bill 2020.

He addressed one aspect of the Bill which was causing distress to those who have lost their loved ones to a horrendous crime – the deceased victims of sexual assault.

Tues 10th November

Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (16:44): I rise to speak on the Justice Legislation Amendment (Supporting Victims and Other Matters) Bill 2020. Today I wish to address one aspect of this bill which is causing distress to those who have lost their loved ones to a horrendous crime—the deceased victims of sexual assault.

The current reporting of deceased sexual assault victims is guided by the Judicial Proceedings Reports Act 1958. The current act does not expressly address deceased victims of sexual assault, and it is unclear whether the restrictions apply to deceased victims. The Victorian Law Reform Commission’s report on Contempt of Court acknowledged that protecting a deceased victim’s identity and privacy does not serve the legislation’s purpose. The Judicial Proceedings Reports Act was implemented to prevent the retraumatisation of and to protect the privacy of surviving victims and their families.

Last Friday in granting an order under the act Judge McInerney stated on multiple occasions that in his opinion section 4(1A) of the act does not apply to a deceased person and as such deceased victims of sexual offences can be identified, whilst acknowledging, however, that the Director of Public Prosecutions has a different opinion on this point of law.

The judgement is in line with New South Wales and the United Kingdom, where such laws only apply to alleged victims who are alive. The bill inserts an express legal requirement that a court order must permit the publication of any particulars likely to lead to the identification of a deceased sexual assault victim. This would require grieving families to go to court to explain their reasons for sharing their loved one’s tragedy. Enabling families to speak about their loved ones when they choose and how they choose simply makes sense. It is not correct that you would seek to silence a grieving family wanting to share their story when and if they decide to do so.

In addition, the Judicial Proceedings Reports Act as it was amended in February directly contradicts the Open Courts Act 2013. The current words of ‘particulars likely to lead to the identification’ of a victim is confusing and is a hindrance towards justice. As a society we must acknowledge that without the media reporting we may never have found some perpetrators. With the media’s assistance it took only six days to find Jill Meagher’s killer.

We must also acknowledge that there are families who want to share their stories when they choose, while protecting those families that do not want to have public acknowledgement. When Mr Dixon, father of Eurydice, of his own volition published the name of his deceased daughter he did so in order to remember her, humanise her and incite change in the way we address this crime. Jill Meagher’s mother said this bill is a heartache on all those who have lost their precious ones. We can speak to 10 families and we will get 10 different opinions regarding this bill, and within those families partners will have a different view to mum and dad, brothers and sisters will have a different view to the partner. It is a very, very difficult road we are travelling along.

This is why I have asked the government not to make any changes which will affect the sexual assault victims and their families and, with the sunset clause, to use the next 10 months to consult and get this very difficult situation right. It is my belief that putting families through this twice in a year is too much pain to ask them to endure. It is for this reason I cannot support this bill as it currently stands, and I urge the government to remove the proposed prohibition on naming deceased victims.

Adjournment – Driver Training

I believe learning to drive is based on experience; reading a book does not sufficiently prepare our learners for getting into the driving seat.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day was a great day for these serviceman to get together, reflect and remember those who gave their loves in service to our country.

Taxi & Hire Car Industry

The taxi and hire car industry had been knocked down before this pandemic even started. Rod Barton is concerned that COVID-19 will be the nail in the coffin for many of them struggling to survive.

The government’s lack of support for non-employing sole traders has let many fall through the cracks, crippling the taxi and hire car industry.

The future of the industry and livelihoods of these workers depend on a comprehensive and effective recovery plan to move forward. There is so much at stake.

Already it is a struggle for many to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table for their families. Rod Barton believes it is absolutely critical that there is a strategy to relaunch the taxi and hire car industry.
Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria is responsible for outlining the rules and parameters that dictate this industry. This responsibility extends to ensuring the industries survival and creating an action plan to move forward.

This is why Rod Barton asked the Minister for Transport, “what is the CPVV’s plan to relaunch the taxi and hire car industry as we come out of restrictions?”

If the regulator fulfils its role in the economic recovery of this industry, Rod Barton is optimistic that we can give hope to those in this industry who have been doing it tough.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Metropolitan and the Leader of the Transport Matters Party Rod Barton MP:
‘I believe that the regulator has a statutory responsibility to ensure that the taxi and hire car industry has an economic recovery plan as we come out of this pandemic.’

Yeng Gali Mullum – A Reconciliation Choir

We were contacted by the Yeng Gali Mullum choir, a reconciliation choir that was started by the elders in 2014 at the Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place in Melbourne’s outer east.

Workers Screening Bill 2020

So much is at stake in these roles, and that is why there must be strict criteria for work that relates to kids and people with disability

Motion for an Inquiry into planning and heritage protection matters.

If we are ever going to make a positive change to protect our history, to protect our environment and to protect our most vulnerable members of society, we need to inquire into these topics.

Question – Re-launching the Taxi & Hire Car Industry

Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria is responsible for outlining the rules and perimeters that dictate this industry, one would thought that as the regulator, they would have statutory responsibilities to ensure the taxi and hire car industry has a plan to move forward.

Companion Animals

I find it staggering that veterinary clinics are not permitted to reunite missing companion animals with their families and required to turn them over to the local council’s pound or shelter.