MEDIA RELEASE –
Leader of the Australian Sex Party and Victorian MP Fiona Patten has slammed the move to cut tram services, wondering whether negotiation tactics by tram operators are in play.
“The Public Transport Minister wrote to me saying the government is calling for stronger performance standards in its negotiations with Yarra Trams. Well, one way for operators to achieve that is to cut services then bring just a few back.
“You’ve got to wonder whether this is a “negotiation” tactic. It seems like the operators are holding the public hostage to get what they want. We’ll never know, because the negotiations are secret. Even the standards operators need to adhere to are secret.”
Ms Patten has previously called for an expert panel to investigate best practice to see a return to high quality services. The panel would also strategically plan the future public transport needs of the State.
“What we are seeing now is absolutely ludicrous. Passenger numbers are growing, services are already stretched and prices have recently been hiked, but now there will be service cuts. How can anyone justify that?
“This decision will mean more congestion because it will force people back into cars.”
Ms Patten stressed the only way to ensure the public gets the services they need and value for money is to increase transparency.
“Why is there so much secrecy? It’s a public service. Now, despite the $2.2 billion already paid to Yarra Trams and all the ‘incentive’ payments, what the public is getting is less and less. Even more disturbing is the negotiations haven’t finished.
“One can only imagine Yarra Trams will be the winner – definitely not the government and certainly not the community.”
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