Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Riversdale train station

Mr KENNEDY (Hawthorn) (19:11): (6191) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Public Transport and Minister for Roads and Road Safety. The action I seek is that the minister join me for a visit to Riversdale train station in my electorate to examine how the quality and accessibility of the station can be improved. As the minister will know, I am a keen public transport advocate. I came here by train this morning, and I will be going home by train after this adjournment. I am also passionate about making the network accessible to all Victorians. People with a disability make up around 20 per cent of the population, and I myself have been in close contact with constituents whose experiences underline the accessibility issues that exist across our public transport network.

The Andrews government has a strong record when it comes to addressing accessibility issues, with the Victorian state disability plan currently being developed and the $1.6 billion disability inclusion package enhancing the education of our disabled students. Additionally, the network-wide upgrades being undertaken, like the creation of 11 000 more train station car parks and the Suburban Rail Loop, exhibit our commitment to building a better transport system for all commuters. New stations, stops and train and tram carriages are being built to be accessible and friendly to everyone, and yet for many decades little or no consideration was given to making the world of transport accessible.

This government is taking the issue seriously, but it is an enormous undertaking to overturn and correct so much of our older and existing transport infrastructure. It is in that spirit that I invite the minister to come and inspect the various accessibility issues associated with Riversdale station. It is a station that my local constituents have raised with me on a number of occasions, but it is also a station that represents the broader needs across the network. I welcome how the government continues to improve our public transport system and realise a more accessible Victoria. I look forward to the minister’s response and his visit to Hawthorn.