The introduction of a six-month trial for ticketless public transport in Wangaratta will do nothing to address the Allan Labor Government’s significant mismanagement of regional travel, according to two of The Nationals’ MPs, Annabelle Cleeland and Tim McCurdy.
The trial, which allows tap-and-go payments, is being rolled out across just four bus routes in Wangaratta, with no integration planned for the local rail network.
Meanwhile, passengers north of Seymour on the North East line are still using paper tickets—a situation Ms Cleeland said was an indictment of the Allan Labor Government’s total mismanagement of public transport.
“While pointless trials are being conducted in our regional towns, most commuters in my region are still unable to even use a Myki card to travel,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Anyone travelling on our V/Lines north of Seymour, which includes people leaving stations like Euroa, Avenel, Violet Town, and Benalla, are still made to collect paper tickets in person before travelling.
“Not only is this impractical with many local stations being unmanned, but it is simply unacceptable that regional passengers are still unable to access the bare minimum of what constitutes a modern public transport system.”
A proposed $1.7 billion upgrade of Victoria’s public transport ticketing system was put in motion, but this too is in chaos with reports emerging that parts of the consortium overseeing the upgrade have walked away with timelines not being met.
The 15-year contract to update the system was won by Conduent Transportation in mid-2023 and included the introduction of new technology to allow passengers to tap on with credit cards, phones and smart watches.
This technology is still years away in Victoria, despite being in place in other capital cities and developed countries around the world.
The Nationals’ Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, whose electorate covers the location of the bus trial, said Victoria’s public transport system was an embarrassment compared to its domestic and overseas counterparts.
“Wangaratta being home to a gimmicky trial for just four bus lines fails to cover up the embarrassing truth that our entire state’s public transport system is in need of fixing,” Mr McCurdy said.
“Labor is spending billions on a system that is still behind what neighbouring states have had in place since 2018.
“True to form under this Labor Government, the proposed upgrades have already been met with controversy, extensive delays, and missed targets by the contractors.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage public transport, and regional Victorians are paying the price.”
