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.

Major Transport Projects Facilitation Amendment Bill

I rise in support of the Major Transport Projects Facilitation Amendment Bill 2019, which is essentially about making sure that Victoria continues its role as the leader in infrastructure delivery. The proposed bill addresses the issues that often arise between utilities and project proponents in the…

North East Link – public transport ready

My question is to Minister Pulford representing the Minister for Public Transport. I ask the minister to detail the government’s plans to ensure public transport infrastructure in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne is operating at peak capacity and offers the most attractive solution for travelling…

Rowville Rail Line planning & design works due

Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (18:04): The matter I raise tonight is for the Minister for Public Transport, Minister Horne. I ask the minister for an update on the progress of planning and design works on the Rowville public transport extension. In April last year the Labor government announced $3 million for design and planning works for a train or rail extension between Caulfield and Rowville. At the time they said these works would be complete in a year—tick-tock. The 2018–19 federal budget also promised $475 million over a five-year period towards construction of a heavy rail line to service Monash.

In talks with Knox council this week we reviewed their public transport vision. The council’s preference is to run heavy rail from Huntingdale through to Rowville. They expressed concerns that stopping at Monash would disadvantage those travelling from the east and that any future business case for a further extension would never stack up if only part of the project was completed now.

Commuters in the eastern suburbs are car captives, the public transport offerings to move around these areas are minimal, and this contributes significantly to increasing congestion on our freeways and roads. Businesses along the proposed extension in Knox and Monash generate almost $27 billion to our state and national economy. These business communities are expanding rapidly, offering jobs, apprenticeships and education opportunities to local residents and those travelling from new suburbs further out. However, getting to work by public transport is almost impossible and car congestion in the area is a nightmare and will only get worse. So I ask the minister to release the findings of the planning and design works through to Rowville or provide an explanation of why this project has been delayed.

Unfinished business in play for taxi and hire car industry

Dealing with unfinished business of the taxi and hire car industry has been the top priority for Transport Matters party leader Rod Barton during the first quarter of his term in Victoria’s Legislative Council.

Knox Gardens Sporting Facilities

Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (09:41): I am pleased to rise today to congratulate Knox City Council on its innovative solution to expanding change room facilities to accommodate the increase in female participation in sports. It is great news that girls are flocking to our AFL, basketball, cricket and other sporting clubs, but the lack of change rooms means numbers often drop off as girls get sick of changing in their cars. The issue for councils now is that in order to add or to enhance the existing facilities, the entire building must be refurbished to meet the latest building standards, which in many instances blows out the costs dramatically.

In Knox they have come up with a unique solution, which I think should be applauded. Prefabricated modular change facilities are manufactured offsite then installed and finished onsite. Because they are stand-alone buildings, the huge costs of refurbishing the entire building can be delayed. Knox Gardens recently benefited from this modular solution, with many others in the area planned for construction. I applaud the council for thinking outside the box and encourage our young girls and women to continue in their sporting pursuits.

CONSTITUENCY – Speaking Out Program

Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (15:49): My constituency question is to the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, Minister Williams, in the other place. I wrote to Minister Williams earlier this month to share my concerns for the future of a fantastic program in the Eastern Metropolitan Region called Speaking Out, and I asked if she could commit to ongoing support for this program. Speaking Out trains and supports women who have experienced family violence or sexual assault. These women are able to share their stories with the public through media interviews, community engagements and involvement through other committees. The program has a current group of 30 women actively taking their messages out into the community. These incredibly brave women are frontline fighters for awareness and as a group take on two or three engagements each week. I ask the minister: what is her office doing to support this valuable program in eastern metropolitan Melbourne to ensure it can continue to raise awareness through first-hand accounts of the effects of family violence and sexual assault?

Residents encouraged to make submissions on North East Link

Eastern Metro MP Rod Barton is encouraging residents and businesses affected by the North East Link development to take advantage of the public information and submissions process.

Barton proposes easy fix for MCG drop offs

A new transport management solution is needed to cope with an influx of commercial passenger vehicles (CPV) on event days at the Melbourne Cricket Ground according to Transport Matters Party leader Rod Barton.

Geelong fast rail a good start to bold transport infrastructure

Election promises by Prime Minister Scott Morrison for fast rail services to Geelong are a good start to the bold transport infrastructure planning needed in Victoria according to Transport Matters Party leader and Eastern Metro MP Rod Barton.

ATO to review Victorian fairness fund payments

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will undertake a review of the Victorian Fairness Fund payments to the taxi and hire car industry following a query from Eastern Metro MP Rod Barton.

Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018

I rise today in support of the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018 and its allocation of funding to regional and outer suburban communities.

AMENDMENT – car toll rates for privately registered utes and cab chassis

This amendment is about making our toll roads fairer for families. Modern utes are the new Commodore and Falcon station wagons. They are vehicles Victorian families drive and love; charging them a commercial rate just is not fair.