Key Points
A Rebecca White Labor Government will give Tasmanians better transport options, restoring and improving bus services, increasing ferry services and introducing improved safety measures as well as planning the infrastructure of the future.
The Liberals have had 10 years to fix the transport issues that have left Tasmanians sitting in traffic instead of getting where they need to go.
It’s time for a better future and a Labor Government will deliver the transport options to get Tasmanians where they need to go, quickly and as safely as possible.
Labor will:
- Expand ferry services to Brighton, Lindisfarne, Kingston and Wilkinson’s Point.
- Deliver 10,000 new free Greencards
- Make school buses safer, with mandated seatbelts, an end to standing on buses and a $1.2 million investment in improved bus safety
- Continue the Better Active Transport Grants Program and commit $2.5 million for new and existing tracks and trails
- Implement the Disability Standard for Accessible Public Transport.
Why we need it
After 10 year of Liberal Government, Metro is in tatters and we have fewer Tasmanians taking public transport. The Liberals have broken their promises for an expanded ferry network and northern suburbs rail, and failed to make transport a priority.
“A Labor Government will deliver the transport options to get Tasmanians where they need to go”
After 10 years asleep at the wheel, the Liberals have driven Metro into the ground, with 180 services indefinitely cancelled and public confidence in Metro all but destroyed.
And despite federal funding for an expanded ferry network, work has not started on the vital services that will connect Hobartians up and down the river.
The details
A Rebecca White Labor Government will:
1. Deliver safer school buses
A Labor Government will invest an additional $1.2 million to support improved school bus safety.
We will also limit capacity on all school buses to the number of seats so no children have to stand, transition to mandated seatbelts on all new school buses, and reduce the maximum age of school buses to 20 years to make sure our children are safe on the bus.
2. Expand the Hobart ferry network
A Labor Government will expand ferry services to four new locations, including Brighton, Lindisfarne, Kingston and Wilkinsons Point.
3. Deliver free Greencards
To encourage public transport take-up, a Labor Government will provide 10,000 free Metro Greencards for new bus and ferry users.
4. Address the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor
A Rebecca White Labor Government will commission an audit of the true cost of activating the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor within the first 100 days of a Labor Government, before working with the Federal Government to seek a funding solution.
The Liberals have spent 10 years failing to deliver on this project they promised, and refuse to be clear about how much it costs. Labor will bring much-needed transparency to the project.
5. Support active transport
Labor recognises the importance of active transport and a Labor Government is committed to creating connections in cities and towns, incorporating walking, cycling and e-commuters through a continuation of the Better Active Transport Grants Program.
And we will commit $2.5 million to allow local councils to create, upgrade and maintain new and existing tracks and trails.
6. Prioritise disability access
After the Liberals missed a 20-year deadline to implement changes under the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport in 2022, a Labor Government will convene a series of roundtables with Tasmanians with disability and local stakeholders to chart a pathway forward and clean up the Liberals’ mess.
A Labor Government will not handball bus stop responsibility to councils. The State Government and Metro control bus routes and the location of bus stops, so to handball it to councils makes no sense. We would hold these consultations within the first 100 days of Government and will release a dashboard on DSAPT progress following our initial round of consultations.
7. Deliver better transport for Tasmanians
A Rebecca White Labor Government will make transport safer for pedestrians, drivers and passengers. We will:
- Embed youth road safety programs in secondary schools with RACT
- Deliver an Urban Transit Centre in Launceston
- Restore the publication of public transport patronage data, after 10 years of secrecy under the Liberals
- Provide $2 million to make level crossings safer
Adopt a five point plan to fix Metro. See our policy here.