QUESTION – Family and Domestic Violence Funding

Many front line domestic violence services face uncertainty about funding in the new financial year, so I asked the minister to outline the funding for domestic violence initiatives in the next financial year.

We cannot support the reforms of the CFA

In his address to Parliament this week Mr Barton said he would not support the Firefighters’ Presumptive Rights Compensation and Fire Services Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2019.

North East Link “lawyering up” for EES panel hearings under fire

In Parliament I have asked that the Minister for Planning, who will ultimately sign the project approvals, to assure the public that the North East Link panel hearings will be fair and transparent and that the “lawyering up” by the project managers won’t hijack the process and disadvantage the pub…

Gaps highlighted in North East Link plans

Traffic, job losses, noise, poor amenity and environment impacts are among the many issues raised by stakeholders in submissions to the main approval process for the North East Link Toll road.

Upper House MP Rod Barton, whose Eastern Metro electorate is hardest hit by the $16 billion project, says…

Spotlight firmly on hidden homelessness in Victoria

A full investigation into the causes of and measures needed to combat the hidden problem of homelessness  will be undertaken in Victoria.  Eastern Metropolitan Melbourne member Rod Barton presented a motion today calling for independent analysis of the changing scale and nature of homelessness across…

MOTION – Inquiry in homelessness in Victoria

My motion asks the Legal and Social Issues Committee to provide an independent analysis of the changing scale and nature of homelessness across Victoria. We need to get a proper handle on this. I want the committee to investigate why, and what are the many social, economic and policy factors that impact…

MEMBERS: North East Link EES submissions

Recently I have engaged closely with the community in my electorate to ensure that they are aware and they have assistance in preparing their submissions for the environment effects statement (EES). In the past fortnight my office has received a huge number of calls, emails and messages from residents,…

ADJOURNMENT: Car safety ratings

I asked the Minister for Roads to work with her federal counterparts to investigate legislation that bans the import of 1 and 2-star vehicles into Australia and investigate incentives to move Victorians into safer vehicles?

QUESTION: RedBook testing for commercial passenger vehicles

I asked the minister to set a safety standard for all proper roadworthy certificates issued by licensed vehicle testers for commercial passenger vehicles operating in Victoria?

MOTION – Inquiry to expand free tram zone and free transport for students and senior

I present this motion today because I have a sincere interest in improving public transport services across Victoria, particularly in Melbourne. As you know, my background is in the taxi and hire car industry, and I see this industry as an integral part of our public transport system. Our trams, trains…

Expansion of free tram zone and free transport for students and seniors

Extending the free tram zone to include Melbourne’s inner city hospitals, universities, sport and arts precincts came a step closer today with a motion from Transport Matters Party leader Rod Barton passed in the Legislative Council.

Family and domestic violence services funding

I asked the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence to outline funding for domestic violence initiatives int he next financial year following concerns that many are in limbo waiting for funding announcements.

Taxi Regulator to be swallowed by Department of Transport

The former Taxi Services Commission will be swallowed by the State Government’s mega Department of Transport when it comes into operation at the beginning of July.

QUESTION – Department of Transport

I asked Minister Jennings to share details of the agencies included in and the responsibilities of the new mega transport department and whether there will be any job losses resulting from the agency mergers and any new ministerial roles in this new mega agency.

Touting offences back on the table

Penalties for touting are back on table following a huge increase in complaints about drivers approaching people at Melbourne Airport, major events and on Melbourne’s city streets.  Industry stakeholders will be consulted on options for managing touting, including reintroducing touting offences after…

MEMBERS – Class Action against Uber

Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (09:50): Around three years ago I sat down at a dinner table with a couple of my mates, Mr Andre Baruch and Nadav Prawer. Nadav is a lawyer, and we were discussing the illegal entry into Victoria of Uber. That evening set the wheels in motion that brought us to 3 May, when the law firm Maurice Blackburn filed in the Supreme Court a class action against Uber. We started this originally just for our original members, but this has now grown to Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. This is going to be the largest class action this country has ever seen. I am very happy to be able to say that, and I am very proud of all of those people who have joined together to tell Uber that they are not making the rules. I am very happy about that.

Upgrades to Templestowe Road and Bulleen Road in NEL

Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (12:50): My constituency question is addressed to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan, in the other place. I seek assurances for residents and businesses on Templestowe Road and Bulleen Road, south of the freeway, that these will receive upgrades needed to cope with the increase in traffic. These are two key on-ramp roads that are currently deemed out of scope for the North East Link Project. Templestowe Road is a rural road. It has no kerbs, drainage channels, footpaths, formal bus stops, shelters or safe pedestrian crossing points.

The road currently has 13 000 vehicles per day, and to date the North East Link Authority has provided limited modelling projections, yet this road will be a major feeder into the Bulleen Road–Manningham Road intersection. On Bulleen Road 1600 vehicles use the two-lane residential stretch between the freeway and Doncaster Road on a daily basis. It is expected to increase to nearly 5000 vehicles each day, and small businesses and residents along this road are understandably concerned. So I ask the minister: what assurances can she give residents and businesses that these roads will receive the required upgrades to accommodate the increased traffic?

QUESTION – Reinstate touting laws

My question today is for Minister Pulford, representing the Minister for Public Transport in the other place. I ask for the urgent consideration of a solution to stop drivers touting for rides.

Heartbroken industry encouraged to speak out

Heartbreaking tales of financial and personal ruin have been flooding into the office of Eastern Metropolitan MP Rod Barton after he called on the taxi and hire car industry to tell their stories to the Parliamentary Inquiry on the Commercial Passenger Vehicle Reforms. 

Include Rapid Transit Busway in early works

A high speed rapid transit busway proposed in the North East Link preliminary designs must be included in early works according to Transport Matters Party leader and member for Eastern Metropolitan Rod Barton.

Smart planning could save 300-year-old redgum

A fierce debate over the removal of a 300-year-old redgum to make way for a tollway on-ramp has highlighted the need for smarter infrastructure planning. State Member for Eastern Metro Rod Barton, whose electorate traverses the site of the proposed toll road, says the rush to deliver the $15.8 billion…

Uber Class Action launched today

What began with two struggling hire car drivers has resulted in a new political party, a representative in the Victorian Parliament, and more than 6000 people being represented in Australia’s largest ever class action.