THE EASTERN Transport Coalition (ETC) is calling for the new Federal Government to commit to funding public transport improvements in eastern Melbourne.
The coalition’s acting chairperson Alex Makin said the new government had been elected on the platform of providing funding to state governments for public transport improvements.
“As a first step we will meet the newly elected federal members in our area and outline why federal funding is needed, looking in particular at the specific needs of Melbourne’s eastern and south-eastern suburbs,” Mr Makin said.
“As evidenced in a survey of 1000 voters, commissioned by the Australian Research Group, the majority of people believe that the Federal Government should consider funding major additions to urban public transport in the same manner it funds roads.
“We will continue to hold the State Government accountable and seek cooperation between the Federal Government to improve our urban public transport systems.
“We want the State Government to ask the Federal Government to include public transport in the AusLink program. This was a policy of the State Government in 2006 and we want to see them return to it.”
Mr Makin said the coalition of local governments, including Greater Dandenong, believed expanded public transport services would help the new Rudd Government in its bid to tackle climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
“Climate change was a key issue in the recent federal election,” he said.
“Any successful strategy to combat climate change must involve federal funding of public transport. We call on the incoming government to live up to this commitment and for the opposition to reconsider its policies in regard to urban sustainability.”
Canberra urged to fund public transport
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