Thursday, 31 October 2024

Mitcham train station

Nick McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (22:02): (1251) Maybe because I just do not know when to stop or maybe because I had nowhere else to go last night –

Bev McArthur: Not another lavatory, please!

Nick McGOWAN: No. I did after we rose last night here in Parliament go to the car park of the Mitcham train station. You would be well within your rights to ask: why on earth am I going to a train station car park at the – I would say it was early evening, although it was probably 7:30–8 o’clock. It was still light. That is the good news. A number of constituents had expressed a concern to me that there were a number of cars that had been dumped there. I was not going to get fussy about whether this is a council issue or a state issue or a federal issue. Those sort of things annoy me when one politician passes the buck to the next.

A member interjected.

Nick McGOWAN: No, I am not grumpy. This is me happy.

A member: No. Fluffy. You’re very fluffy this evening.

Nick McGOWAN: Fluffy, yes. There is a lack of gel in the hair, I am afraid. The cost cutting on this side of the house has reached new limits. I will speak to my stylist. Unfortunately I am not known for my fashion prowess either, so I have nothing that assists me, but I do digress ever so slightly from the car park in Mitcham at the train station.

A number of my constituents were quite concerned because a number of cars had been dumped there. It turns out of course that this is not the responsibility of the local council, because I did speak with the CEO last night, because I am sure the CEO had nothing better to do with his time either than to speak to me about dumped cars at Mitcham train station. Nonetheless he was able to advise me that that property was actually the property of VicTrack, which, Mr President, you would be glad to know brings me to my question.

Bev McArthur: I knew it’d be the state government’s fault.

Nick McGOWAN: Well, I am not sure the dumping of the cars is the state government’s fault, but I will blame them for not having cleaned them up quick enough – that is right. These cars I think had been there for quite some months. There were a number of cars, and for any of those here who do use public transport – and I have been known on occasion to get the bus home from Parliament, although I will not be tonight. You can speculate as to why I have to get the bus home. Nonetheless I have on occasion got the bus home. As it transpires, these cars remained there, and they are the duty and the responsibility of VicTrack and by extension the Minister for Transport Infrastructure.

So of course my question tonight is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, and I hope the minister is still in the Parliament, although I am sure they would have left by now because they are not in this chamber. Notwithstanding, I will be writing to the minister tomorrow. I would like those cars removed as quickly as possible, because it is quite clear that they are derelict, that they are unregistered and they have been abandoned.

For those people who do use public transport, there is nothing more frustrating than getting to the car park and every car space is taken and the only car spaces there that could have been used are those with abandoned vehicles. They have been there quite long enough. It is time that they go, and I would like to see some swift action. If the minister can turn their attention to this matter, that would be most welcome. From the constituents of Mitcham and the electorate of Ringwood, we wish you a good night.