10 Feb 2015: Queensland: Congratulations ALP & Mr Peter Wellington

[ozbob]

Media release 10th February 2015

Queensland:  Congratulations ALP & Mr Peter Wellington

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 has congratulated Premier Elect Annastacia Palaszczuk, Mr Peter Wellington and the Queensland Labor Party on now being in a position to form Government.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Congratulations Premier Elect Annastacia Palaszczuk, Mr Peter Wellington and the Queensland Labor Party on being in a position to form Government."

"Queensland Labor does have a good transport policy platform (1)."

"Queensland Labor has been approachable in the past on public transport matters and we look forward to working with the new Government to progress public transport in Queensland."

Contact:

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

References:

1. ALP Queensland - Policy Platform http://www.queenslandlabor.org/wp-content/uploads/2014QldPolicyPlatform_web.pdf  7.50 - 7.96 on http://www.queenslandlabor.org/policy/

7.50
Labor will deliver integrated regional transport plans in conjunction with regional land
use plans in all urban areas across Queensland.

7.51
Labor will implement targets to increase public and active transport usage.

7.52
Labor will consider demand management measures where appropriate and equitable.

7.53
Labor will consider increased penalties for wilful damage to transport infrastructure,
noting the safety and efficiency costs.

7.54
Labor recognises the particular vulnerability of public transport workers to physical
assault and will improve safety and security. Labor will increase penalties for people
found guilty of assaulting public transport workers.

7.55
Labor will maintain Queensland Rail and Brisbane Transport as vertically integrated,
publicly owned providers of public transport services.

7.56
Labor will build an inner city rail solution consistent with the Cross River Rail capacity
outcome as part of a broader vision to revitalise and transform rail services. It will
increase frequency and provide more express services. It will also deliver new links,
including to Kippa-Ring, Flagstone, Ripley, Coolangatta, Maroochydore and through
the North West Rail Link along the Trouts Road corridor, consistent with the SEQ
Connecting 2031 transport strategy.

7.57
Labor will extend Brisbane's world-class busway network, including completing the
Eastern and Northern Busways and CoastConnect on the Sunshine Coast, and rolling
out more high frequency routes and bus priority lanes.

7.58
Labor will complete the Gold Coast light rail from Helensvale to Coolangatta and
consider the feasibility of light rail in other corridors

7.59
Labor will upgrade public transport stops and station infrastructure to ensure safety,
accessibility, amenity and additional park and ride facilities for those who use and
operate the system.

7.60
Labor will maintain public transport concessions and extend them to recipients of the
Newstart allowance.

7.61
Labor will continue to subsidise and improve public transport services, including
in provincial centres, with a funding requirement being world's best practice by
contractors.

7.62
Labor will review the public transport fare system to improve affordability in South East
Queensland

7.63
Labor will ensure that all communities have access to public transport services to
connect them to the rest of Queensland, including Traveltrain and long distance bus
and air services.

7.64
Labor will release regular public reports against both performance measures and
funding provided for all subsidised public transport services

7.65 Labor will maintain regulation of the taxi industry to ensure it meets high standards of
safety, service quality, responsiveness and accessibility.

7.66 Labor will consider options to enable competing taxi companies in a single market to
cooperate where there is benefit for users.

7.67 Labor will investigate the use of taxis to provide public transport where other services
are not viable.

7.68 Labor will roll out additional secure taxi ranks where required.

7.69 Labor will ensure that all taxi districts have adequate provision of wheelchair
accessible taxis, including providing incentives for conversion, and it will implement a
passenger lift fee.

7.70 Labor will regularly publish taxi performance measures where government subsidies
are provided

7.71 Labor will expand the dedicated cycling network along key corridors, including
disused rail lines, and ensure that active transport facilities are included in all new and
upgraded roads.

7.72 Labor will pursue measures to ensure end of trip facilities are included in new
buildings where appropriate, to encourage active transport.

7.73 Labor will encourage greater use of public and active transport for school travel.

7.74 Labor will implement strategies to increase mode share for rail freight on defined
strategic rail freight networks.

7.75 Labor understands there is community concern regarding coal dust adjacent to rail
corridors in Brisbane.  Labor supports an independent, scientific review of mitigation treatments and will
implement best practices and support further technological improvements in this area.
Labor supports consultation with the relevant industry, union and community groups
as the coal industry grows in Queensland.

7.76 Labor will develop and publish a plan for the progressive priority upgrade of the North
Coast Rail Line to improve safety, efficiency and reliability.

7.77 Labor will support construction of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing and Gowrie
to Grandchester rail line, with other levels of government and the private sector.

7.78 Labor will invest in removing conflicts between passenger and rail freight movements
where they share the same corridor.

7.79 Labor will enable construction of the Surat Basin Railway with appropriate provision for
its potential future role as part of an inland railway.

7.80 Labor will plan, design and build roads that are fit for purpose, future-proofed, and to
standards that meet the needs of road users and the wider community.

7.81 Labor understands that road infrastructure is critical to sustaining regional and
rural communities and will therefore ensure that a fair proportion of road funding is
allocated to regional Queensland.

7.82 Labor will always engage in public consultation and integrated planning approaches
to new road works.

7.83 Labor will continue to provide fair and just compensation for private property owners
directly and adversely affected by road construction.

7.84 Labor will develop and publish a plan for the progressive priority upgrade of the
Bruce Highway and the construction and upgrade of other major roads that will unlock
Queensland's economic potential, such as the Warrego Highway, the Toowoomba
Second Range Crossing and the Ipswich Motorway.

7.85 Labor will review and consider reforms to calculating motor vehicle registration.

7.86 Labor will implement strategies based on world's best practice and thorough research
to reduce the road toll and improve road safety.

7.87 Labor will expand the coverage of security services and officers across the public
transport network to improve safety for users, constructors, operators and maintainers.

7.88 Labor will regulate the hours of work for train crew to ensure safety and investigate
regulation of hours of work for other transport operators.

7.89 Labor will maintain and strictly enforce chain of responsibility legislation for the
trucking industry and implement a regulatory system to provide adequate and
ongoing training to heavy vehicle operators to an accredited standard.

7.90 Labor will prioritise and progressively deliver grade separations and other safety
measures at rail level crossings.

7.93 Labor will lobby the Australian Government to provide increased transport funding for
Queensland based on the decentralised nature of the State, with a particular emphasis
on the Bruce Highway and North Coast Rail Line.

7.94 Labor will lobby the Australian Government to maintain the Road Safety Remuneration
Tribunal as an important safety initiative.

7.95 Labor will encourage the Australian Government to proceed with a premium
performance and 21st century alignment of Inland Rail through to Brisbane.

7.96 Labor will encourage the Australian Government to include purchase of public
transport tickets in salary packaging arrangements.

[ozbob]

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