CONSTITUENCY QUESTION – Westall Road Extension

I asked the Minister for Roads when construction of the long promised and much anticipated Westall Road extension will begin.

Touting will be banned by end of 2019

Touting will soon be outlawed in Victoria with two pieces of legislation in play to reintroduce the offence.

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. 

Tax reviews for taxi fairness fund recipients

The ATO has agreed to review individual cases relating to fairness fund payments and I am urging those affected to approach the ATO for assistance.  I asked the Treasurer this week why no tax advice had been offered to those who received payments and now face tax debt.

Tax obligations for fairness fund recipients

I asked the Treasurer for information about the intention of taxi and hire car industry fairness fund payments, highlighting the pressure banks put of recipients to pay down loans and the lack of tax advice.

A broader focus for homelessness – prevention and social housing

We need a broader focus to solve homelesssness that includes prevents and on wrapping services around communities to make sure everybody has a home and is able to stay in their homes.

NORTH EAST LINK – dismay at early works, community hopes rest on recommendations

I’ve raised concerns with the Government over early works on the North East Link project going ahead without the promised EES and planning approvals and reiterated the need for community concerns to be taken into consideration. 

North East Link: Early works begin before EES recommendations and approvals are in

I asked the Minister for Transport Infrastructure why early works have started at Borlase Reserve before the EES recommendations are presented or any approvals issued.

Tell your MP to stop touting

I am encouraging members of the taxi industry and the public to urge Labor Government Ministers and legislative council members to vote in favour of my private members bill to put a stop to the dangerous practice of touting in Victoria. 

MEMBERS – Free tram services

The inquiry to extend the free tram zone is generating much debate, but students and seniors are getting behind my motion to get people out of cars and onto public transport.

Fairness matters for taxi industry says Barton

The commercial passenger vehicle industry is in a mess and it’s time the Government did “the right thing” to make it safe and viable again and this week I took the opportunity of the debate on an fishing licence compensation bill and emergency service superannuation legislation to remind the Government…

Cameras in cars make everyone safer

Even Sandeep “the creep” knows cameras in cars make everyone safer.

CPV driver accreditation

I asked the Minister for Public Transport whether the current register of accredited commercial passenger vehicle drivers was accurate and whether audits were done to ensure all meet requirements of regular police checks. Her answer is attached.

SMARTbus service for Suburban Rail Loop route

This week I asked Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne to create a SMARTbus service along the proposed Suburban Rail Loop route and get these services running now rather than waiting 50 years.

Trackless trams for Doncaster Rail

We think trackless trams are an obvious option to explore for the new “busway” services proposed in the North East Link plans and would meet the long promised rail connection from Doncaster to the city. 

Barton calls for fair price increase on taxi fares

Transport Matters Party leader Rod Barton has called for an increase in the maximum regulated taxi fares of 10 percent immediately with annual CPI increases in the future. 

“These Victorian public transport drivers are slugged with increasing costs on all sides and no way of improving their working…

Barton defends community after NELP lawyers “unfair blow”

Rebuttal comments from North East Link Project lawyers on the final day of public hearings have unfairly dismissed community concerns and left them fearing the worst says Eastern Metro MP Rod Barton.

Mr Barton has come out in support of the community whose hopes for changes to the project now rest…