Tuesday, 17 March 2026

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (13:02): (2227) My question is to the Minister for Public and Active Transport. Residents in eastern Victoria, and in particular South Gippsland, are still required to rely on paper tickets to access public transport, while other parts of the state are moving beyond the troubled and beleaguered Myki system, if you can believe that, trialling contact payment technology. For several years I have raised the issue on behalf of residents who keep asking why regional Victorians continue to be left behind when it comes to basic ticketing technology. The reliance on paper tickets is inconvenient for locals and confusing for visitors, creating unnecessary barriers to public transport use and regional tourism. Given the minister is trialling a new system after the beleaguered Myki, when will the government actually implement a clear timeline for electronic or paper-free ticketing in my region of Eastern Victoria and particularly in South Gippsland?