Tuesday, 30 August 2022

 Mr WAKELING (Ferntree Gully) (15:20): I recently announced the Liberal Party’s plan to finally do the study to extend tram route 75 to Knox. As the Knox community will remember, the Labor Party promised an extension of the tram to Knox in 1999. Twenty-three years later, nothing has been delivered by this government. On behalf of the Knox community, I raised this important issue with the government in this house, calling upon the Labor government to match the commitment of the Liberal Party to look at extending the tram along Burwood Highway through Ferntree Gully and along Mountain Highway to Bayswater, something that has been overwhelmingly supported by Knox residents. In response to this very important question, the minister has provided a response to me as the local member that the Labor Party will not be supporting this plan. So it is very clear that at the upcoming election only the Liberal Party will be committed to exploring the extension of the tram to Knox. We know that it is vitally important that we improve public transport services within the Knox community, and it is a shame that the Labor Party continues to reject the views of Knox residents. Only the Liberal Party will stand up for Knox residents when it comes to improving public transport.