Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for Public and Active Transport) (14:30): When it comes to cutting commute times and the cost of travel for Victorian workers, it is the Allan Labor government that delivers. Working from home is the new norm for many Victorians, and it is changing the way people move and when they move. That is why we have been busy updating public transport timetables to reflect work-from-home travel patterns, with more services on weekends, off peak and in the evenings. We have invested $98.7 million into more frequent services throughout the day, with additional services going live later this year at the next timetable change. Of course that builds on –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Nationals and the Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, who is at the table, are being very disrespectful to the minister on her feet.

Gabrielle WILLIAMS: Of course that builds on the 1200 new services that we added as a part of the big switch earlier this year. The new Metro Tunnel timetable is now providing 10-minute services or better along the Cranbourne–Pakenham to Sunbury corridor seven days a week. While we add more services, though, we are also making public transport more affordable. Our free public transport for kids initiative is putting more money back into the pockets of working families, and of course that is on top of other initiatives like the regional fare cap. While parents are getting more flexibility around when they travel, kids are travelling for free, with service patterns that meet their needs too.

For those working from home, we are not just backing local public transport links. We are connecting local communities through active transport infrastructure too. We have delivered over 410 kilometres of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths, as well as crossings, safer bike routes and walking options that save Victorian families on petrol, on parking and on time navigating traffic. We all know where those opposite stand on working from home. Let us face it, they would chain people to their desks on a minimum wage if they could, but this government is getting on with making life easier and more affordable for Victorian families.