Category Archives: Federal Election 2007

Federal road funding blows Geelong’s greenhouse budget

Geelong’s transport greenhouse gas emissions will rise even faster under proposals from both major parties to upgrade major roads instead of improving public transport, the Public Transport Users Association has warned.

Geelong Branch Convener Paul Westcott said both parties also risked making the region more vulnerable to high petrol prices by increasing dependence on cars, while still not providing any practical public transport alternatives to driving.
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How to vote for public transport this Saturday

While Climate Change is now a mainstream issue, the major parties continue to ignore the impact of transport — which accounts for up to half of household emissions. Better public transport would also relieve pain from petrol prices, traffic congestion, impact on obesity, access to education and work opportunities, and spread property demand better around our cities.

The PTUA has reviewed prepared a scorecard of the federal parties, so you can vote for public transport at this Saturday’s federal election.
Howard and Rudd on a crowded train

Party
Rating
Greens A-
Democrats B
Liberal/National D
Labor D-
Family First E

Full scorecard
Continue reading How to vote for public transport this Saturday

Cut our oil addiction, parties told

Public transport groups today urged the federal government and opposition to develop land transport plans that reduce reliance on costly and polluting oil.

“The PM has highlighted the negative impacts of our oil addiction on two consecutive days now,” said Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) President Daniel Bowen. “First he said high oil prices are fuelling inflation and interest rate rises [1], and then he expressed concern that rising petrol prices are ‘very, very painful’ [2]. It’s time the federal government got behind alternatives, like expanding passenger rail infrastructure.”
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South Morang extension funding welcomed, but buck passing not

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the Federal Coalition’s commitment of funds to the Mernda rail extension in Melbourne’s north.

“This rail extension will help to cut greenhouse emissions and fuel expenses in the heart of the mortgage belt where transport costs put major pressure on household finances,” said PTUA President Daniel Bowen. “We believe this is recognition that alternatives to driving are sorely needed to ease the squeeze on family budgets as well as to reduce greenhouse emissions and oil imports.”

Treasurer Peter Costello committed $80 million to two overpasses associated with the rail extension while visiting the area today. The federal government has however declined to fund public transport infrastructure, leaving the state government to fund all of the track laying, signalling and stations as well as several other road crossings along the route.

“Of course the money is welcome, but the buck passing is not. It highlights the silly arbitrary demarcation where the federal government will put billions into state and local roads but nothing into public transport,” said Mr Bowen. “Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world but the Australian government is unique among Western nations in not investing in urban public transport. This embarrassment needs fixing urgently.”
Continue reading South Morang extension funding welcomed, but buck passing not

Moving Australians Sustainably

Howard and Rudd on a crowded trainPublic transport groups from around Australia recently joined with the PTUA to publish a report on the role of public transport in federal transport policy. The report – Moving Australians Sustainably: Transport Policy in the National Interest – looked at how public transport contributes to a range of federal policy objectives and responsibilities.

The report found that public transport makes a significant contribution to national economic performance by helping to manage traffic congestion, by reducing the need for costly oil imports and by contributing to improved participation and productivity in Australia’s workforce. In light of this, governments that fail to support public transport could hardly be regarded as responsible economic managers.
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Australian public transport users unite in call for federal funds

Joint media release from: Action for Public Transport (NSW), Public Transport Users Association (Vic), People for Public Transport (SA), Sustainable Transport Coalition (WA), Community Action for Sustainable Transport (Qld), ACT Transit Group and Environment Tasmania.

Public transport users from around Australia have united to urge federal government funding for public transport, citing major economic, health and environmental benefits to be gained from improved alternatives to the car.
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Transport the key to emissions reductions

From PTUA News, July 2007

TrafficWhile the Federal Government finally appears to be paying some attention to carbon emissions, planning to phase out incandescent lightbulbs in favour of Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs), there’s no sign of directing funds towards urban public transport projects. This is despite household lighting representing a fraction of the emissions of transport – indeed, calculations we’ve done indicate that transferring just 20% of car trips to public transport services would save around four times the carbon emissions of switching all lights to CFLs.
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Cut our oil dependency – invest in public transport, government urged

The federal government should invest in public transport to cut Australia’s growing dependence on Middle East oil, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) said today.

“Oil production in Australia is in terminal decline, along with production in most other oil producing countries,” said PTUA President Daniel Bowen. “As a result we’re going to see higher and more volatile prices and a rapidly rising import bill to feed our oil addiction.”
Continue reading Cut our oil dependency – invest in public transport, government urged