South-West Coast electorate
Roma BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (14:43): (194) My question is to the Minister for Public Transport, and the information I seek is for the government to explain why passengers cannot book a ticket more than 100 days in advance on the Warrnambool V/Line service and why schools and other groups are unable to book groups in amounts larger than 30. Minister, schools are trying to plan in advance for school excursions to Melbourne, however, due to your government’s restrictions, groups greater than 30 are unable to book on the same train. This requires schools to instead send students in smaller groups on different V/Line services or hire coaches, adding thousands of dollars to the cost of school camps and forcing students onto our substandard regional roads. It is ludicrous to expect schools to send 100 students to Melbourne on four different regional train services and still coordinate the excursions. The last students would be arriving nearly a full day later than the students on the first service. Additionally, those seeking to travel on V/Line are unable to make bookings more than 100 days in advance. For those who have important events or a specialist medical appointment, they need certainty that they will have a seat on the train and not have the additional worry they may not be able to use the V/Line service to Melbourne. This is specifically placing unfair – (Time expired)