A Rebecca White Labor Government will give Tasmanians better transport options, restoring and improving bus services, increasing ferry services and introducing improved safety measures as well as planning the infrastructure of the future.
A Labor Government will introduce a five-point plan to rebuild Tasmania’s Metro services – giving Tasmanians safe and reliable public transport and easing traffic congestion.
After 10 years asleep at the wheel, the Liberals have driven Metro into the ground, with 180 services indefinitely cancelled and public confidence in Metro all but destroyed.
Tasmanian Labor will hold a review into Metro to make the company more transparent and accountable to Tasmanians – and we will offer improved pay and conditions for bus drivers and mechanics through enterprise bargaining negotiations.
This will be a vital step in improving staff retention and being able to restore services, before creating extra services in areas of high need.
A Labor Government will also limit capacity on all school buses to the number of seats so no children have to stand, we will transition to mandated seatbelts on all new school buses, and reduce the maximum age of school buses – with an additional $1.2 million to support improved bus safety.
A Labor Government will also expand ferry services to four new locations, including Brighton, Lindisfarne, Kingston and Wilkinsons Point, and we will provide 10,000 free Metro Greencards for new bus and ferry users.
And we will commission an audit of the true cost of activating the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor within the first 100 days of a Labor Government, before working with the Federal Government to seek a funding solution.
Labor recognises the importance of active transport and we are committed to creating connections in cities and towns, incorporating walking, cycling and e-commuters through a continuation of the Better Active Transport Grants Program.
And we will commit $2.5 million to allow local councils to create, upgrade and maintain new and existing tracks and trails.
After the Liberals missed a 20-year deadline to implement changes under the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport in 2022, a Labor Government will convene a series of roundtables with Tasmanians with disability and local stakeholders to chart a pathway forward and clean up the Liberals’ mess.
The Liberals have had 10 years to fix the transport issues that have left Tasmanians sitting in traffic instead of getting where they need to go.
It’s time for a better future and a Labor Government will deliver the transport options to get Tasmanians where they need to go, quickly and as safely as possible.
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Transport Minister