Juliana ADDISON (Wendouree) (16:52): It is wonderful to follow the member for Gippsland South, although I will have more fact rather than the fiction that he was talking about in terms of our planning and in terms of our commitment to the people of Victoria, because we know –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for Eildon, you are not in your allocated seat.

Juliana ADDISON: We know backing the inner city with these $2 ridiculous fares was never going to happen. You know you were not going to win. You said anything. The promises you made were absolute rubbish. This was well thought out, well planned and timed for 2 November to get the most punch as we entered into the campaign, and it is great.

I really, first and foremost, want to thank the Minister for Public Transport, the member for Niddrie, for submitting this matter of public importance. As Minister for Public Transport, the member for Niddrie is so passionate about his portfolio; he is a regular public transport user and someone who cares deeply about access and equity for all Victorians. I congratulate the minister for delivering this. You talked about the four months, and the day on 2 November, and look: 31 March –

The SPEAKER: Through the Chair, member for Wendouree.

Juliana ADDISON: Through the Chair, it was 31 March, from announcing it on 2 November. People were like, ‘But when? Is it going to be after the budget? Is it going to be eventually? Is it going to be during the four years?’ Not during the four years of this term, but four months – four months into this term; it is very, very, very exciting.

So I congratulate you for that, then, Minister, and I would love to have you come to Ballarat – catch the train to Ballarat – and come and stand on the station with me. Let us do that.

I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to talk about how the Andrews Labor government is delivering cheaper fares, not only for regional Victorians but for all Victorians. This is an announcement that has been very much welcomed by my communities, and the comments on my Facebook page give us a bit of a snapshot of their responses.

Alicia Jane: Fantastic! About time we weren’t penalised for living in the regions. Nearly $50 a day full fare was a big disincentive to go to melb and vice versa!

I do not know what the Welcome Nugget Bike Hire is, but they love this. They have written on my Facebook: Love this!

Chuol: Great news … I spent 45 dollars every single day I want to Melbourne. … well done to Dan Andrew Government.

Daniel: We would always drive to Bacchus to get on a train for the metro fare, always worked out cheaper especially when a few people are travelling … cannot wait for the 31st …

Novia: Great news … I spent 45 dollars every single day I want to Melbourne … We would always drive to Bacchus to get on a train for the metro fare, always worked out cheaper …

Mithrani: Awesome

Emma: Cannot wait!

Laurence: Great news

Fair fares to regional Victoria are a game changer for my community and for all of us. The unfair costs experienced by regional train users was an issue that I raised shortly after being elected. When you saw that you could get zone 1 and 2 all the way to Melton and then suddenly the prices skyrocketed as soon as you left Melton, it was not fair, it was not right and it was not on.

This is what this is about addressing. I know that fairer regional fares will help many Victorians with cost-of-living pressures by reducing fares and creating an alternative option to taking the car, thus reducing petrol costs.

These new fares will also encourage more Victorians to connect with family and friends by reducing the cost of travel between regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne. I know my mum is very excited at the thought of the grandkids coming up and using that service and being able to spend more time with them in Ballarat.

These new fares will be a catalyst for people to visit the regions and discover what Victoria has to offer. This is great news for regional tourism and businesses, who will benefit from the flow-on effects of cheaper travel in regional areas. I look forward to seeing waves of Western Bulldogs supporters catching the train to Ballarat and heading to Mars Stadium to see the AFL and others heading to Ballarat from August to October for the Ballarat International Foto Biennale.

I had the pleasure of joining the Premier, the Minister for Public Transport, the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, the member for Eureka and the newly elected member for Ripon in Ballarat East for the announcement of the election commitment that, if re-elected, the Andrews Labor government would introduce a regional fare cap for regional Victorians, which would be the same price as the metropolitan Melbourne price.

But it was not just that; I also welcomed that an extra 800 services have been added on to the V/Line network since 2014 and a further 200 weekend regional services have been committed to, which will further benefit regional passengers and our metropolitan visitors.

We are not only making regional fares fair, we have also as a government committed to 23 new VLocity trains, securing hundreds of jobs over the next three years across the supply chain and supporting passengers heading to the west of our state. We have invested $1.5 billion to build 59 VLocity trains since 2015 and are transforming our regional network and creating good-quality jobs right here in Victoria. It has been said before and it will be said again: we are building trains in South Dandenong, not South Korea.

For people living in my electorate of Wendouree, the fare cap means a huge 80 per cent saving for a daily peak from Ballarat, with the fare being slashed from $45.60 to $9.20 full fare, and for those with a concession that saving will be close to $20, with the fare being slashed to $4.60.

I have been a V/Line passenger for decades, relying on the Ballarat to Melbourne service to get to uni, to work and to social outings and events. The high cost of regional train fares has been a point of irritation for a long time in regional cities and communities, unlike in Gippsland South, and the introduction of capped regional fares is a game changer for workers, students, families and older Victorians.

It has been said before, but I will say it again: Labor is the party of regional Victoria. We have more regional members than any other party in this place because we understand the issues of regional Victoria. About one in five Victorians live in the regions, and why wouldn’t you? Regional Victoria is the best of Victoria. There is no place I would rather be living than Ballarat, with great schools, world-class hospitals and low unemployment. Ballarat is a thriving cultural and sporting centre with much to offer.

I am just going to shout out to the others who are speaking on this. I am proud to be speaking on this MPI with a bevy of strong regional Labor MPs, following on from the member for Eureka, and I am looking forward to hearing the contributions of the member for Ripon, the member for Lara and the member for Bellarine. I also know that the member for Bass is very excited about the new fares, as is the member for Geelong, the member for Macedon and the Bendigo members, because these new fares are something we all know will make a significant difference to the lives of people in our communities.

As someone who was born and bred in regional Victoria I understand the need for regional fares capped at metro prices. It is about equity, it is about fairness and it is about access. It is about opening Victoria up to all Victorians and encouraging people to move more freely and more cheaply in our great state.

It is also about opening up opportunities in Ballarat at Federation University and Federation TAFE for students to our north, our south, our east and our west, with daily concession fares of just $4.60, and encouraging workers to think about the financial cost and economic cost of driving to and from Ballarat in their own cars, rather than taking public transport. There are also the great environmental benefits of using public transport.

What these fares will also do is remove barriers to accessing the Melbourne Zoo, the Melbourne Museum and the National Gallery of Victoria for individuals with limited disposable income and families on tight budgets. Some Victorians have never been to the beach. These fares make the beach an option for country kids. A fare to Geelong train station then a bus down the Great Ocean Road to Anglesea, Lorne or Apollo Bay for $9.20 full fare or $4.60 concession makes that bucket list item achievable. Likewise a trip to Echuca and a ride on a paddle-steamer or a visit to the latest blockbuster exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery – these fares are making them all possible.

This is great news for existing V/Line passengers, who will benefit from our fairer fares, as well as many more Victorians who will choose to use a V/Line service in the future, perhaps for the first time, as a result of these savings.

My hope is that capping regional prices will encourage regional people to get out of the car. Just think how much more relaxed you are going to be, instead of trying to navigate the West Gate, get through the Western Ring Road, go past the prisons, hit the Western Highway and just be waiting in the car park that is the Western Highway; sitting on the train, watching a bit of Netflix, taking a breath, enjoying yourself and cruising into Ballarat station or Wendouree station.

Your family are going to appreciate it. You are going to be less stressed. You are going to have more money in your pocket. This is a big winner four months since it was announced. We are delivering it next Friday. This is what good governments look like.

 

Watch and read more of my speeches to Parliament here – including responses from ministers on how we’re working for Wendouree.