Tuesday, 6 February 2024

Adjournment

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (18:28): I move:

That the house do now adjourn.

Melbourne Airport bus services

Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (18:28): (655) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport. The action I seek is for the minister to overhaul the bus system servicing the Tullamarine airport. Melbourne is a world city and a major international destination for business and tourism. The airport is staffed by 18,000 people, who work hard every day and make sure that the planes run on time, the bags go on the planes and drinks and food are available while you are waiting to board, but sadly, many of these workers find it quite difficult to get to work.

The SkyBus from the city to the airport does not make any stops along the way. The airport rail is a dream, and no-one knows when it will become reality. Many of the airport workers actually live close to the airport and in surrounding suburbs, but the bus system that does service the airport is patchy, limited and decades out of date. The route does not service the needs of the community. If we want the world-class city we need the world-class airport, and we must ensure that we have the workers to service the airport. The bus networks servicing the airport should be easily fixed, but this government seems incapable of delivering simple, essential services when it comes to the western suburbs and those communities trying to access the airport.