Wednesday, 14 August 2024

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:54): (1019) My constituency question is directed towards the Minister for Public and Active Transport in the other place, and it concerns public transport access to universities in the Northern Metropolitan Region. Access to universities is very difficult and leading to poor outcomes, particularly for those in the outer northern suburbs. In fact 20 per cent of year 12 graduates within the City of Hume actually go to university, and barriers to transport are a big part of that. There are insufficient local public transport links. I would like to thank hardworking Hume councillor Sam Misho for his advocacy on this. I know the City of Hume wrote to the previous minister, now the Deputy Premier, before, seeking new bus routes from Craigieburn, Coolaroo and Upfield stations to La Trobe University and Victoria Uni. My question to the minister is: what work is being done to improve public transport links between local railway stations and universities?