Free public transport in exchange for votes
As its almost time to vote, the Liberals have decided that as a way to attempt to win the voters, free public transport would be offered as a carrot to primary, secondary and full-time tertiary students.
Under this new transport policy, anyone eligible for a concession card could apply for free travel on trains, trams, buses, and V-Line services. With 90,000 students benefitting from this, doesn’t it seem like a great reason to vote Liberal?
But then comes the question of payment. And where it will put the state budget (we’re one of the wealthiest states in Australia). Will we get a drop in the already waning quality of service on public transport?
And if international students were thinking they were finally getting a break, the answer is no, as this doesn’t change anything. If anything, this would make the fight worse for the next four years. Remember, its a vote-winning tactic, and international students don’t have the necessary voicevote.
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How ridiculous!
They will never do this. You are right Colin, its a desperate attempt to win over young voters.
And besides, why would I, and non student, want to pay for 70,000 people to receive public transport? Why should Country Victoria pay for this? Can you imagine how impossible it would be to get on a tram near say Melbourne Uni or RMIT?
Neil, you’d be paying for 90,000 people to receive free public transport!
Heh, yes. I also imagine the ticket inspecters having a lot more fun trying to go thru crowded trams and trains.
I wonder if there are statistics anywhere that say that people who don’t pay their way are usually students. I’d be interested to see the demographics…
Of course, this might work out well with the new myki system, if it gets rolled out next year.
Hard to say, definitely. But its good to get young voters, and parents that have many children (seeing the savings). Its about $50 savings per month in Zone 1 per concession ticket.
… thats $50 more fuel for parents to use. Or to buy groceries with. Or to indulge in that pretty white dress in the store.
That’s f**king ridiculous. How dare they say international students do not have a voice?
If this gets more polluting/traffic-jamming cars off the roads I am all for it. It is crazy how many school kids driven to school.
Check out the stats at the end of this page:
http://www.bv.com.au/bikes-and-riding/10393/
adrock2xander: they didn’t say international students don’t have a voice. I’m telling you that because international students don’t have the option to vote. And by not being able to vote, they don’t have to appeal to wanting to give free transport or concession cards to them.
You won’t see them gaining any votes if they said, “we’ll provide international students with concession rates for travel”, because someone will come by and point to the loss in revenue (In NSW, its purported to be $11 million/yr)
Incidentally, since a lot of people reading/writing here have interests in transport concessions for students, I found this to be interesting reading: http://www.nlc.edu.au/vic/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=8&Itemid=17
This is insane. I’m all for getting my kids riding to school, but aren’t the Libs the ones who sold out the Public Transport system (along with everything else that wasn’t nailed down) in the first place?
Not that Bracks in any better. He’s failed to correct a whole lot of stuff Kennett stuffed up, and it really looks like the left is the new right when it comes to funding in the eastern suburbs. Bah humbug!
Why do we continue to have services and public offices like the justice system, health and education organised around getting some self-serving suit elected back into office, instead of what’s in the interest of the State’s citizens?