Wednesday, 17 May 2023

 Jacinta ERMACORA (Western Victoria) (09:50): On the first day of the Andrews Labor government’s V/Line capped fares, I visited Warrnambool railway station to hear from travellers about how the government’s new cheaper fares would affect them. In Warrnambool a woman in the ticket queue said to me, ‘I saw it online. We were going to drive to Melbourne next week, but now it’s cheaper for my husband and I and our children to travel on the train.’ An emotional, happy couple told me, ‘We just waved goodbye to our daughter on a backpacking trip. What an affordable start.’ A man who had to pick up his daughter said, ‘My daughter is able to come to visit more often.’ A student who travels to Melbourne each weekend is going to save $60 a week. I met a couple at the Portland bus stop who happily told me, ‘This is going to make seeing each other so much easier.’ One person told me outright, ‘This will make dating easier.’ And I must mention Ida Tevelein expressing her opinion on 25 April in the Portland Observer:

Let’s face it, you couldn’t even drive to Yambuk for $4.60 in a car! Yet, that is all it costs me for a return fare to Melbourne for the day, $4.60!

Ida had a wonderful day visiting her daughter in hospital. I am sure these capped fares will leave a lasting legacy, creating many new stories, particularly for those who live in outer regional Victoria.