Mornington MP David Morris has called for a bi-partisan approach to public transport on the Mornington Peninsula.
In Parliament this week Mr Morris called on the Minister for Public Transport to convene an urgent meeting with all Peninsula MP’s and Mornington Peninsula Shire Councillors to address our public transport problems.
Mr Morris pointed to the campaign launched by the Shire after years of frustration, saying the Shire “…rightly make the point that at present 82 per cent of the peninsula is not serviced by public transport. Mornington Peninsula shire residents are almost five times less likely to travel to work by public transport than those in greater Melbourne. A mere 3 per cent take public transport to work compared with 15 per cent across Melbourne.”
Mr Morris told the Parliament “Labor has been in power for 16 of the last 20 years and the population has increased significantly but nothing has been done on their watch. “Most recently—one of many times I have raised public transport matters on the peninsula in this house—I raised the issue of the route 788 bus. Ventura,the operator, agreed there was a problem. They had a solution. The minister would not agree… the final response I got was: The member’s interest in these services has been noted, and will be included in considerations for planning in the future.”
“Well, the kids who cannot get on the route 788 bus are not interested in planning for the future. They want the problem fixed now.”
“I am suggesting we need to all sit down around the table—the three local members, the shire councillors and the minister—and try and get some resolution, because the government cannot keep ignoring the Mornington Peninsula when it comes to public transport.”