Victoria Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder

Fares Rise An Average 8.6 % To Pay For Labor’s Cost Blowouts

Victor P Taffa

Victoria’s public transport fares would rise an average 8.6 % from 1 January 2012 thanks to the previous Labor Government’s ‘Buy now, pay later’ transport projects and Labor’s associated large cost blowouts, Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder said today.

“The previous Labor Government’s Regional Rail Link, Digital Train Radio System, myki, M1 Melbourne freeway upgrade and West Gate Bridge strengthening blew out under Labor by more than $1.3 Billion, and Labor failed to fund the vast majority of its $38 Billion transport plan.” Mr. Mulder said.

“The Coalition Government is continuing many of these projects, including Regional Rail Link, new stations at Cardinia Road, Lynbrook and Williams Landing, the purchase of 50 new trams, a modified myki smartcard and the South Morang rail extension.

“On top of that, the Coalition Government is also meeting its numerous transport election commitments, which in public transport include establishing the Public Transport Development Authority, increasing rail maintenance by $100 Million over four years, grade separating 12 Melbourne level crossings, improving safety at up to 75 country level crossings, purchasing an initial seven new trains for Metro with more to follow, building new railway stations at Southland and Grovedale, extending V/Line trains to Wendouree, Eaglehawk and Epsom and introducing Victoria Police Protective Services Officers to patrol railway stations after 6pm.”

Mr. Mulder said that while the price of a 2 hour adult Zone 1 Metcard would rise by 20 cents to $4 and the cost of a daily Zone 1 adult Metcard would rise by 60 cents to $7.60, passengers could save by either switching to Value Metcards or myki.

“Using a 10 trip two hour adult Zone 1 Value Metcard or a myki smartcard will cost $3.28 for each two hours, a saving of 52 cents compared with the two hour adult Metcard 2011 fare, and passengers buying a 5 trip daily adult Zone 1 Value Metcard or using myki in Zone 1 will pay a maximum of $6.56 a day, a saving of 44 cents a day compared with the daily Metcard
Zone 1 2011 fare.” Mr. Mulder said.

Mr. Mulder said the previous Labor Government’s transport plan said that ‘when new trains and additional capacity are delivered to the public transport network in 2011, fares will increase above Consumer Price Index to reflect some of the cost of the investment’.

Mr. Mulder said that V/Line and country bus fares would rise by an average 8.6 % from 1 January 2012, rounded to the nearest 10 cents.

“V/Line’s fares continue to represent good value, with a 10 week minimum Geelong to Southern Cross date to date ticket to cost under $60 a week, or less than $12 a day for weekday only commuters.” Mr. Mulder said.