❓ Question regarding the decision to charge seniors for parking at train stations during off-peak hours, questioning its justification and cost-effectiveness compared to concession fares. The Minister explains the backflip on ACROD parking charges due to inconsistency with government policy.
AnsweredQoN 427Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SENIORS — TRAIN STATIONS — PAID
PARKING
427. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Minister for
Transport:
I welcome the Minister for Transport's
backflip on paid parking for ACROD holders.
(1) Is the
decision to charge seniors to park at train stations between 9.00 am and 3.30 pm
on weekdays also an oversight?
(2) If the answer
is no—sorry, is the minister just getting his riding instructions? Does
he want me to repeat the question?
Mr
P.T. Miles : Carry on; keep reading!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the first time.
Member for Girrawheen, I would like you to re-read the question.
Ms
M.M. QUIRK : I welcome the Minister for Transport's backflip on paid
parking for ACROD holders.
(1) Is the
decision to charge seniors to park at train stations between 9.00 am and 3.30 pm
on weekdays also an oversight?
(2) If the answer
is no, how does he justify charging seniors to park at train stations when
train travel is free?
(3) Is the
minister aware that the $2 charge for as little as one hour of parking is more
than the $1.80 concession fare for a four-zone SmartRider ticket?
PARKING
427. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Minister for
Transport:
I welcome the Minister for Transport's
backflip on paid parking for ACROD holders.
(1) Is the
decision to charge seniors to park at train stations between 9.00 am and 3.30 pm
on weekdays also an oversight?
(2) If the answer
is no—sorry, is the minister just getting his riding instructions? Does
he want me to repeat the question?
Mr
P.T. Miles : Carry on; keep reading!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the first time.
Member for Girrawheen, I would like you to re-read the question.
Ms
M.M. QUIRK : I welcome the Minister for Transport's backflip on paid
parking for ACROD holders.
(1) Is the
decision to charge seniors to park at train stations between 9.00 am and 3.30 pm
on weekdays also an oversight?
(2) If the answer
is no, how does he justify charging seniors to park at train stations when
train travel is free?
(3) Is the
minister aware that the $2 charge for as little as one hour of parking is more
than the $1.80 concession fare for a four-zone SmartRider ticket?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) When
the decision for ACROD parking came about, I considered it and felt that it was
inconsistent with a government policy commitment in 2013, in which the
government said that it would cover the administrative costs of obtaining an
ACROD permit. Because I felt it was inconsistent, I asked the department to
change the policy on ACROD bays on offer. There are currently 400 ACROD bays
across the car parking network. The Building Code of Australia requires that
one ACROD bay be provided for every 100 car parking bays; there is currently
double that requirement. I felt that charging $2 for parking in those bays was
inconsistent with the government's policy commitment and, therefore,
that it was not appropriate to charge for those bays.
the decision for ACROD parking came about, I considered it and felt that it was
inconsistent with a government policy commitment in 2013, in which the
government said that it would cover the administrative costs of obtaining an
ACROD permit. Because I felt it was inconsistent, I asked the department to
change the policy on ACROD bays on offer. There are currently 400 ACROD bays
across the car parking network. The Building Code of Australia requires that
one ACROD bay be provided for every 100 car parking bays; there is currently
double that requirement. I felt that charging $2 for parking in those bays was
inconsistent with the government's policy commitment and, therefore,
that it was not appropriate to charge for those bays.
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