Group fears charge still fee-sible

By Shaun Inguanzo
EVIDENCE that parking fees could be introduced at local train stations is now redundant because an important clause was removed last year, according to the State Government.
But the Public Transport Users’ Association (PTUA) says there is no legislative guarantee that would stop train operator Connex from stinging users with car park fees.
A fracas between the State Government and the Opposition erupted this week when Lyndhurst candidate Gary Anderton insisted the government would press ahead with introducing $2 parking fees at suburban train stations.
Mr Anderton backed up his claim with a franchise agreement document that showed a contractual clause stating Connex ‘may charge a maximum $2 per day’ at stations such as Dandenong and Noble park where security upgrades were due to be completed.
The franchise agreement is also publicly available from the government’s tender website with the clause included.
But State Government spokeswoman Sofia Dedes this week said the clause had been removed from the contract early last year – before the Liberal Party’s campaign.
She said the clause was first introduced by the Liberals when the train service was privatised.
“The fact that Mr Anderton did not know it was his party who first introduced it merely highlights the sad state of the Victorian Liberal Party,” she said.
But PTUA spokesman Alex Makin said the public would remain cynical until the State Government guaranteed its position by outlawing parking fees at train stations.
“Until the legislation explicitly prohibits it, Connex could get away with charging for parking,” he said.
Mr Makin said the parking fee debacle was set to escalate again with the introduction of a new electronic ticketing system into Victoria next year when motorists may need to buy a smartcard ticket to enter fenced-off car parks.