Single safety test needed for taxi and rideshare vehicles

Transport Matters Party leader Rod Barton has asked the Minister for Public Transport to implement a single annual safety inspection standard for commercial passenger vehicles.

Fix and finish Murray Basin Rail: Barton

Delays and budget blowouts on the Murray Basin Rail Project are driving up costs for regional producers and pushing trucks onto our roads, and Transport Matters Party leader Rod Barton has asked the Transport Infrastructure Minister to clarify plans for the abandoned project, stressing the importance…

Barton secures school buses to Euroa

Education Minister James Merlino has agreed to keep school bus services running from Nagambie and Avenal to Euroa Secondary College. 

Safety must be a priority: Barton says stop touting now

Touting and unaccredited drivers in the commercial passenger vehicle industry are ticking time bombs that must be stopped says Transport Matters Party leader Rod Barton.

Bulleen businesses need a plan

Last week we toured businesses in the Bulleen Industrial Zone last week with Manningham Mayor Paula Piccinini  to hear concerns over the Environmental Effects Statement process and the current design, which proposes wiping out much of the business zone. 

“These small business owners are living in…

Include Rowville and Doncaster rail in infrastructure blitz

The benefits of Victoria’s infrastructure developments will outweigh the short term pain of road and public transport disruptions, but even more public transport projects need the green light according to Transport Matters Party leader Rod Barton. 

Action on touting needed now says Barton

A private members bill to stop touting and tighten safety flaws around commercial passenger vehicle registrations will be introduced by Transport Matters Party leader Rod Barton when Parliament returns in August. 

Rework the North East Link to save Bulleen businesses and 1200 jobs says MP

The cost of fairly compensating and relocating these business, plus the negative impact of removing a precinct that contributed over $132 million each year to the local community deserved more than the cursory mention in the Environmental Effects Statement. 

Victorian’s start paying tolls that pay for roads they don’t use

“When the tolling legislation passed parliament back in March I tried to get some concessions for public transport operators and for families driving dual cab utes, but the government said no,” said Mr Barton.

Ozanam House a great boost for homelessness accommodation

“Bringing these services together into a single facility, which includes medical and support services, showers, meals and storage facilities is a great initiative that really addresses the needs of those experiencing homelessness in our city,” said Mr Barton.

Barton welcomes community input into regional road safety

Getting the community on board to tackle the growing number of accidents, serious injuries and lives lost on roads in regional Victoria is the best way to combat the problem says Transport Matters Party leader Rod Barton.

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…

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.