Gippsland South electorate
Mr D O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (11:38): (1829) My question is to the Minister for Public Transport, and I ask: when will the minister commit to providing additional train services on the Bairnsdale line, specifically to Sale? In light of the bushfires, such a decision would be a very good show of support for the Gippsland region, particularly at a time when we are encouraging people to come to Gippsland. We actually have the problem at the moment of strikes affecting V/Line on the Gippsland line. At the moment we have 20 services a day to and from Traralgon but just three to Sale. That is a pathetic performance, and it needs to be improved. We also had the government deliver an appalling performance on the Gippsland line in terms of punctuality. In the last 12 months they have not met their punctuality targets once. Trains to Traralgon were on time just one in two trips and to Bairnsdale just three in four trips. This is terrible. We actually need additional services to Sale, and I call on the minister to deliver them.