Media Releases
Touting offense in place by Christmas
Touting and the advertising of commercial passenger vehicle services by non permit holders will become an offense by Christmas
Read MoreTaxi and hire car inquiry recommendations show a clear path forward
We welcome the 13 recommendations tabled in Parliament today that open the opportunity to repair the past and pave the way for a viable and sustainable future for Victoria’s Commercial Passenger Vehicle industry.
Read MoreTouting 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.
Read MoreTax 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.
Read MoreNORTH 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.
Read MoreTell 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.
Read MoreFairness 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…
Read MoreSMARTbus 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.
Read MoreTrackless 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.
Read MoreBarton 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…
Read MoreBarton 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…
Read MoreSUBURBAN RAIL LOOP – Include Doncaster in stage 1
I’ve asked the Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan to reevaluate Stage 1 and extend the first stage of the Suburban Rail Loop to include Doncaster to ensure that Victorians are better connected as quickly and effectively as possible.
Read MoreTighten up on CPV safety says Barton
We need to tighten up safety across all commercial passenger vehicles following recent reports of rape and sexual assault by men posing as Uber drivers.
“We’ve created an unsafe culture that encourages young people especially to get into unmarked vehicles for a cheap ride home.”
Read MoreNEL HEARING – Put community first in North East Link planning
In his presentation to the NEL advisory panel on Monday Mr Barton asked them to consider five areas of community concern in its recommendations to the Minister – enforceable EPA construction guidelines, better solutions for the Bulleen Industrial Zone, better protection of the Green Ribbon, the inclusion…
Read MoreMake EPA construction guidelines mandatory on North East Link says Barton
I will address the government’s expert advisory panel for the North East Link on Monday morning (September 9 at 9.45am) and will call for Victoria’s Environmental guidelines for major infrastructure construction works to be mandatory requirements on the project.
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