Thursday, 3 April 2025

Northern Victoria Region

Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:43): (1527) My constituency question today is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport, and my constituents ask why some regional V/Line passengers have been left out of the government’s announcement of extra weekend services to Melbourne. On 28 February the government announced 50 extra weekend train services for the Ballarat, Ararat, Warrnambool and Bendigo lines. Echuca, Swan Hill, Seymour, Shepparton and Albury line passengers have all missed out on the opportunity to travel to Melbourne at times convenient to them. With the declining conditions of our roads network and the rising cost of fuel and running cost of vehicles, along with the cost of parking at events, northern Victorians use the V/Line network as a cost-effective and safe way to travel to the city for shows, concerts and large sporting events that are not offered in the regions. It seems once again this city-centric government has forgotten that Victoria extends all the way to the border, not just to the Premier’s seat of Bendigo. Minister, my constituents ask why some regional V/Line passengers have been left out of the government’s announcement of extra weekend services to Melbourne.