❓ The Premier responds to questions about public transport affordability by highlighting the government's free summer public transport initiative and criticising the opposition's past record on public transport fares and infrastructure.
AnsweredQoN 858Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC TRANSPORT — FEE-FREE TRAVEL
858. Mr Y. MUBARAKAI to the Premier:
I refer to the WA Labor government's
commitment to keeping public transport affordable.
(1) Can the
Premier outline to the house any recent measures to encourage Western Australians
onto public transport?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house whether he is aware of anyone opposed to the most
affordable transport?
858. Mr Y. MUBARAKAI to the Premier:
I refer to the WA Labor government's
commitment to keeping public transport affordable.
(1) Can the
Premier outline to the house any recent measures to encourage Western Australians
onto public transport?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house whether he is aware of anyone opposed to the most
affordable transport?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question. It was good to see him at the test cricket
on the weekend. I must say that the summer of test cricket did not get off to a
great start, but I think everyone who managed to get along to either Optus
Stadium or Burswood Peninsula for our West Test Summer Fest or the WA Day
Festival really just appreciated what a great spectacle and weekend it was.
Although we cannot rely on the Australian cricket team, there is one thing Western
Australians can rely on this summer.
The SPEAKER : One moment. It
is a requirement to sit down in the public gallery. Thank you.
Mr
R.H. COOK : As I said, although we
cannot rely on the Australian cricket team, one thing that Western Australians can
rely on is free public transport delivered by the WA Labor government.
Another
summer of free public transport is coming to Western Australia to help Western Australians
with cost-of-living pressures. We are helping people get out and about
this summer, just like we did before. The next summer of free public transport
starts on 14 December and will run right through to Wednesday, 5 February.
During that period, people can ride our buses, trains and ferries for free. It
is available for free in the Perth metropolitan area and regional WA, and all
people need is a SmartRider. Just tag on and tag off and the bus, ferry or
train ride is free of charge. This will save families a lot of money over the
summer, particularly during the festive season and school holidays. A family of four can save up to $30 on a
single trip in public transport costs. We have already seen the success of this initiative. This is a startling statistic. Last year's summer
of free public transport saw 8.3 million boardings across the bus, train and
ferry services. The outstanding thing is that this was a 42 per cent increase
in the number of trips taken in the previous
year. That means that people have taken the opportunity to travel into the
city, celebrate Christmas, see the Christmas lights and visit relatives.
Because this year it falls after 8 December, when we open the Morley–Ellenbrook
line, they will be able to travel to Whiteman Park from anywhere in the
metropolitan area free of charge. Of course, they can then catch the tram from
Whiteman Park station into Whiteman Park itself. There are huge opportunities
to explore the Perth metropolitan area. They can go as far as Yanchep and
travel out to Ellenbrook or down to Mandurah. The summer of free public
transport is one of more than 20 initiatives that we have launched since the
cost-of-living pressures came into focus, totalling more than $1 billion going
back into the pockets of Western Australian households. We are committed to
continuing to make these services affordable.
Although
we are committed to making services affordable, we know that the previous
Liberal–National government hiked two-zone fares by 43 per cent.
That is shameful. In addition to the hike in fees and charges and the hike in
land tax, it increased the price of a two-zone fare by 43 per cent. It has
constantly criticised Metronet. We know that members opposite hate public
transport, hate Metronet most of all and hate subsidised public transport
fares. Western Australians know that the
Liberal Party does not support free public transport and Western Australians
know that it has an abysmal track
record when it comes to public transport. They know who can deliver major
infrastructure such as road and rail to the suburbs. It is a WA Labor
government. They know which party has a vision for this state. It is a WA Labor government. Although they know the Liberal Party
will always take them for a ride—are you ready?—only a WA
Labor government will offer free public transport over the summer.
The SPEAKER : The members for
Fremantle and Landsdale were very proud of that!
thank the member for the question. It was good to see him at the test cricket
on the weekend. I must say that the summer of test cricket did not get off to a
great start, but I think everyone who managed to get along to either Optus
Stadium or Burswood Peninsula for our West Test Summer Fest or the WA Day
Festival really just appreciated what a great spectacle and weekend it was.
Although we cannot rely on the Australian cricket team, there is one thing Western
Australians can rely on this summer.
The SPEAKER : One moment. It
is a requirement to sit down in the public gallery. Thank you.
Mr
R.H. COOK : As I said, although we
cannot rely on the Australian cricket team, one thing that Western Australians can
rely on is free public transport delivered by the WA Labor government.
Another
summer of free public transport is coming to Western Australia to help Western Australians
with cost-of-living pressures. We are helping people get out and about
this summer, just like we did before. The next summer of free public transport
starts on 14 December and will run right through to Wednesday, 5 February.
During that period, people can ride our buses, trains and ferries for free. It
is available for free in the Perth metropolitan area and regional WA, and all
people need is a SmartRider. Just tag on and tag off and the bus, ferry or
train ride is free of charge. This will save families a lot of money over the
summer, particularly during the festive season and school holidays. A family of four can save up to $30 on a
single trip in public transport costs. We have already seen the success of this initiative. This is a startling statistic. Last year's summer
of free public transport saw 8.3 million boardings across the bus, train and
ferry services. The outstanding thing is that this was a 42 per cent increase
in the number of trips taken in the previous
year. That means that people have taken the opportunity to travel into the
city, celebrate Christmas, see the Christmas lights and visit relatives.
Because this year it falls after 8 December, when we open the Morley–Ellenbrook
line, they will be able to travel to Whiteman Park from anywhere in the
metropolitan area free of charge. Of course, they can then catch the tram from
Whiteman Park station into Whiteman Park itself. There are huge opportunities
to explore the Perth metropolitan area. They can go as far as Yanchep and
travel out to Ellenbrook or down to Mandurah. The summer of free public
transport is one of more than 20 initiatives that we have launched since the
cost-of-living pressures came into focus, totalling more than $1 billion going
back into the pockets of Western Australian households. We are committed to
continuing to make these services affordable.
Although
we are committed to making services affordable, we know that the previous
Liberal–National government hiked two-zone fares by 43 per cent.
That is shameful. In addition to the hike in fees and charges and the hike in
land tax, it increased the price of a two-zone fare by 43 per cent. It has
constantly criticised Metronet. We know that members opposite hate public
transport, hate Metronet most of all and hate subsidised public transport
fares. Western Australians know that the
Liberal Party does not support free public transport and Western Australians
know that it has an abysmal track
record when it comes to public transport. They know who can deliver major
infrastructure such as road and rail to the suburbs. It is a WA Labor
government. They know which party has a vision for this state. It is a WA Labor government. Although they know the Liberal Party
will always take them for a ride—are you ready?—only a WA
Labor government will offer free public transport over the summer.
The SPEAKER : The members for
Fremantle and Landsdale were very proud of that!
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