ALP Campaign Launch 11 March 2012

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Premier Anna Bligh uses Labor Party official campaign launch to criticise LNP leadership issue at Brisbane Convention Centre

[ozbob]

The only thing that I picked up that was expressly transport related was ' freezing ALL motor vehicle registration costs ' for three years.

Welcome to Congestion Capital folks ...   

[colinw]

<sigh>  With rare exceptions they just don't get it.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Bligh drives campaign launch with rego freeze vow

[ozbob]

Media release 11 March 2012

SEQ: Anna Bligh and the ALP - Public transport matters

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org), a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers, wants clarity and commitment from both major political parties in tackling south east Queensland's transport woes.  In her election campaign launch today, Anna Bligh missed an opportunity to reinforce her party's public transport plans.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The ALP is committed to Cross River Rail.  All thinking Queenslanders realise this project is essential."

"A policy commitment to freeze all motor vehicle registrations though is only going to further exacerbate road congestion issues in south-east Queensland, and further disadvantage public transport with the projected fare increases of 15% for at least 2013 and 2014, on top of the the previous three years increases of 50% in total."

"What was needed was a similar commitment as for the LNP to review public transport fares."

"A commitment to extend concession public transport fares to all Health Care Card holders was also needed. Queensland is the only state not to do this."

"A strong economy is grounded in a sustainable transport system.  Congestion, gridlock and poor public transport outcomes are going to worsen the quality of  life for all Queenslanders."

"Queenslanders expect more!"

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Feedback received, thanks ..

Anna Bligh's ALP campaign launch for the Queensland election on March 24 failed to make one mention of public transport, but instead continued a car-centric focus by offering to freeze motor vehicle registrations for the next term of government.

The Premier failed to endorse the next three-year tranche of projects in the Connecting SEQ 2031 document – the government's own transport infrastructure investment program – that requires new capital investment exceeding $15 billion by 2014-15.  While investment in the extension of the Springfield railway line and the new Moreton Bay Railway Line are welcomed, they merely play catch-up on the investment required to keep pace with a growing population.

Ms Bligh also failed to spell out her vision for Brisbane and SEQ based around the $6.3 billion Cross River Rail project.  Growing exports and prosperity were among the Premier's themes, yet she did not explain how the rail freight network serving Queensland will be able to cope with the extra demand, estimated to double in the next 20 years.  The north-south rail corridor doesn't have the track capacity to handle even a modest increase in freight-carrying capability.  This will throw more of the freight task onto a flood-prone Bruce Highway.  At least the B-doubles and semi-trailers won't have to contend with hikes in vehicle registration.  The people of Queensland will be taxed to pay for the damage they cause to our roads.

In Brisbane, even the RACQ acknowledges that the city is heading for a traffic crisis and part of the solution is construction of Cross River Rail and duplication of the single-line shared passenger-freight railway to Nambour.  If the RACQ can see that wise investment in passenger rail is an investment in curbing traffic catharsis.

It would have been helpful had the Premier had endorsed 15-minute off-peak frequency on the Ferny Grover Line, as the LNP has done, and agreed to extend 15-minute frequency on other parts of the rail network.  Instead, we had silence.

Town planning in Brisbane is leaning towards tighter densities in apartment living, particularly in a 10km radius of the city centre.  Because of the inconvenience of 30-minute train services off-peak and a one-zone fare hovering around $4, those people are continuing to use their cars to get about.

Indeed, the ultimate irony of Premier Anna Bligh's campaign launch is that, while her government proposes to freeze car registration for three years, public transport users will face a 15 per cent increase in fares year-on-year and well above the CPI.

For the sake of a better, more liveable, and environmentally conscious city, Anna Bligh must end the disparity between cars and freeways and the buses, ferries trains and track needed to support Brisbane as a 21st Century city in South-East Asia.

[BrizCommuter]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/car-rego-frozen-public-transport-fares.html
With public transport fares rising and car rego frozen, it really is a case of voting for either stupid or stupid!

[Arnz]

With public transport fares rising and car rego frozen, it really is a case of voting for either stupid or stupid!

More like voting for Dumb or Dumber.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Labor's campaign launch keeps heat on Campbell Newman

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Labor senses a hairline crack has opened in Queensland election

[ozbob]

Putting aside the transport non policy initiatives,  it was an impressive performance by Anna Bligh IMHO.  Delivered well, pity not more policy substance though ..