Tuesday, 18 November 2025

 Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (13:51): Communities in the inner west have been lobbying for years for Williamstown Road to be closed to trucks when the West Gate Tunnel finally opens, and they have recently had a big win, with the government’s announcement that trucks will face a curfew on nights and weekends. While not the full truck bans that groups like Save Willy Road and the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group have lobbied for, this is a welcome step, and it will mean significant reduction in noise and particulate pollution and help make those neighbourhoods safer and more livable. There is of course so much more to do. The government needs to do more to support a shift of freight from trucks to rail, to get as many trucks as possible off the streets entirely. There is a need to get the port rail shuttle moving, but the government also needs to make sure it is not going backwards by severing freight links as part of the Sunshine super-hub project without providing a viable replacement. In the meantime, to the Save Willy Road group, MTAG, local councillors and community members: enjoy your win and your quieter, healthier streets, and the Greens will keep campaigning with you for safer streets and to make sure that these truck bans are enforced.