Tuesday,29 October 2024

Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (13:32): We are going backwards. In a climate crisis we see yet again that emissions from the transport sector are going up, projected to be the largest contributor to Australian emissions by 2030. Last week the Australia Institute outlined some solutions in their response to the Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and action plan. The transition to electric vehicles is one key factor, and governments need to make substantial investments in charging stations, particularly in regional areas, to avoid leaving anyone behind in this important shift. Electrifying public transport and making PT more efficient are also essential to meeting our climate goals. But for the transport sector to reach net zero simply cleaning up existing vehicles is not enough. We also need to expand the proportion of public and active transport – more people replacing car trips with cycling, walking, e-mobility devices or public transport. We need the state government and local councils to plan and build infrastructure that encourages safe cycling and walking, creating healthier and more livable communities while significantly cutting emissions. We are doing a little in Victoria but not nearly enough. Better public transport – both more frequent services on existing routes and providing public transport to communities that currently have none – reduces dependence on fossil fuels, reduces traffic and cleans up the air we breathe. Investing substantially in cleaner transport is not just an option, it is a necessity.