2016-06-02
The Greens have announced a dedicated $10 billion funding allocation over four years, to prioritise the public transport that Australians need to fix traffic congestion, reduce pollution and make our cities and towns healthy and liveable.
“After years of neglect it’s time to invest in public transport and give people the choice to leave their car at home,” said Senator Janet Rice, the Australian Greens spokesperson for transport and infrastructure.
“People are spending too much time stuck in traffic. It’s bad for people and bad for the planet.
“We are not going to build our way out of congestion by building massively expensive polluting toll roads. That’s like loosening your belt to cure obesity.
“Instead of polluting toll roads, we will invest an initial $10 billion over four years as the first instalment in a ten year $25 billion commitment to prioritise the public transport that Australians need to fix traffic congestion, reduce pollution and make our cities and towns healthy and liveable.
“The Greens public transport commitment takes us towards a clean transport future.”
The Greens’ ten year commitment for public transport will turbo-charge priority projects still awaiting federal funding contributions, such as:
- $1bn for Sydney light rail connections
- $1bn for Airport Rail in Melbourne
- $500m for MAX Light Rail in Perth
- $500m for the AdeLINK tram network
- $82m for Hobart Light Rail
- $2bn for Brisbane Cross River Rail
- $400m for Canberra Light Rail stage 2
“One of the keys to improving liveability and people's quality of life is an efficient transport network. After electricity, transportation is also our country’s next big pollution challenge,” said Greens Leader Richard Di Natale.
“Both the Coalition and Labor are focused on more polluting toll roads, when people right around the country are calling out for a better way to get to school, work, the doctor, the shops, their sports and social activities than sitting around in traffic.
“Big polluting toll roads aren’t improving our quality of life. They’re making the congestion and pollution problem worse, destroying natural habitats and making it more expensive for people to access their jobs and essential services."
“Easing congestion through public transport options is good for communities, good for the environment and good for productivity.”
The Greens full clean transport plan will:
- Provide $10 billion over four years for priority public transport projects around the country
- Establish an annual $250 million Active Transport Fund for cycling and walking infrastructure
- Fast track high speed rail
- Commit an additional $500 million to shift freight onto rail through new rail freight lines
- Invest an additional $250m in arterial road works to maximise efficient traffic flow and enable better bus services to suburban and outer-urban communities
- Commit to $300 million in additional funding for the Black Spot road safety program
- Accelerate the electric vehicle revolution through $201 million in infrastructure and fleet grants, and five years’ worth of free registration for new fully electric vehicles.