Thursday, 31 July 2025

Northern Metropolitan Region

Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (12:53): (1711) My constituency question is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport. Minister, my constituents who live in and around Brunswick are frequent users of the 506 Moonee Ponds–Westgarth station bus service. They were disappointed to see that in the May budget, 2025, several bus routes received funding, while the 506 service, despite its high patronage, was overlooked. The 506 is one of Victoria’s busiest bus routes and still lacks a Sunday service. On Saturdays the service averages 20 boardings per hour, a strong indicator of unmet demand. If the 506 bus were to receive a Sunday service, it would likely outperform many other routes in terms of productivity and patronage. This addition would improve the overall efficiency of the network and, most importantly, connect people to their jobs, education, health care and essential services seven days a week. Minister, will you commit to implementing a seven-day service for the 506 bus?

Sitting suspended 12:54 pm until 2:02 pm.