Tuesday, 15 October 2024

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:09): (1146) My constituency question is to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure in the other place. Minister, please explain why there is no public toilet at the new ‘fully rebuilt’ Merinda Park station and how long my constituents will have to wait for toilets to be installed. The new Merinda Park station was announced with much typical Labor fanfare when it was opened in early 2022; however, one thing not mentioned at the opening nor in the accompanying press release was the shocking fact that there would be no public toilet available to commuters. My constituents have to drive often to this station, and given the government is estimating more than 1500 passengers will use this station on a daily basis, the exclusion of a public toilet is either complete incompetence from this government, disrespecting locals, or yet another example of penny pinching from a government that is completely unable to manage finances. It is probably a combination of both. What are the pregnant women, the people with young families, the children, the disabled people and the elderly expected to do when they are in desperate need of a toilet?