The McKell report’s assessment of Tasmania’s public transport system as being “seemingly terminal” is a damning indictment on 10 years of Liberal government neglect.
Just the title alone – A Better Deal: Fixing Tasmania’s broken public transport system – demonstrates the need to rebuild our public transport system, particularly Metro Tasmania.
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 recognises the need for immediate action to rebuild Metro – giving Tasmanians reliable bus services, saving money on transport costs in a cost-of-living crisis, and getting more cars off the roads to improve traffic congestion in our major centres.
Importantly, this needs to include decent pay and conditions for the people who keep the buses running – the drivers and mechanics.
Under the Liberals, Metro executive salaries have risen by massive amounts while mechanics are still fighting for a wage increase to an “industry rate of pay,” and Metro has saved at least $400,000 in wages because around a third of mechanic positions at the company are vacant.
The Liberals can’t claim to be working to fix our public transport when they are doing nothing to ensure there are enough mechanics to fix buses that need fixing or even routine maintenance to keep them running.
Tasmanian Labor is committed to rebuilding Metro, restoring services and ensuring drivers and mechanics are respected and retained in the business.
It’s time for a better future where Tasmanians can rely on public transport to get them where they need to go.
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Transport Minister