Tuesday, 12 August 2025

 Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (19:18): (1248) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport, and the action I seek is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport to visit my electorate to provide an update on the ongoing investments we are making to improve local train, tram, bus and active transport service outcomes and access across my community. I am absolutely delighted that from 1 January 2026, public transport will be free every day for kids under 18, saving families over $755 per child each year, and free every weekend for all Seniors Card holders, saving seniors over $360 annually. Thanks to the 2025–26 Victorian Labor budget, this landmark reform will deliver real cost-of-living relief and better transport access for locals for school, sport, work, shops, services and social outings, making life easier and more affordable for local families, seniors and young people.

It is also in terms of public transport services that we are taking that real action. I was delighted to welcome the 2025–26 Victorian Labor budget allocation of over $98 million to boost services across Melbourne’s train network and support more local services via the Upfield line, increasing off-peak services with trains running at least every 20 minutes on the line, including at night and on weekends, and the Craigieburn line increasing services during shoulder, peak and off-peak periods, with trains running every 20 minutes on the line, including late at night and on the weekends. The improvements build on those previous investments to boost capacity on the Upfield and Craigieburn rail corridors, including via the Metro rail tunnel, removal of four dangerous crossings through Coburg, a commitment to remove a further eight level crossings throughout Brunswick, two landmark stations at Coburg and Moreland, a world-class active-transport corridor through Coburg and soon Brunswick, extending the Upfield shared path to the Western Ring Road, and introducing new 10-per-cent higher-capacity X’trapolis 2.0 trains first on the Upfield and Craigieburn lines.

But of course there is more we need to do, and that is why I welcome the federal Albanese Labor government’s $7 million investment towards better northern suburbs train corridors, providing for a much-needed business case and planning to keep improving the northern lines, including Upfield and Craigieburn, and exploring and considering a full range of infrastructure upgrades required to keep uplifting services such as track modification, electrification, signalling, power upgrades, level crossing removals, additional stabling and potential new stations.

It is also local tram capacity that we are investing in. I would love the minister to come out again and see the $115 million upgrade to the Brunswick tram depot to expand the depot to accommodate new, larger trams, increasing the number of trams that can be housed from 49 to over 60; new and improved maintenance facilities; modern admin buildings for more drivers and employees; a new tram depot entry–exit directly onto Sydney Road; a new staff car park; and accessible tram stops. These upgrades will help support the Moreland tram, route 6; route 1 along Nicholson Street; route 19 along Sydney Road; and of course route 58 along Melville Road.

It is the bus network that we are continuing to invest in as well, supporting our hardworking Transport Workers’ Union drivers at Dysons, CDC and Kinetic. I am also continuing to advocate for better local services, including after-hours, weekend and Sunday services, including for the 561 North Coburg–Newlands route; the 526 North Coburg–Newlands route; the 513 and 514 routes via Cumberland Road, Pascoe Vale; a new bus connection that we need for Pascoe Vale families and Strathmore Secondary College students; the 503 route along Albion Street; and other local bus services. It is road safety as well that we are investing in to make our roads safer.