The former Liberal and National Government imposed severe funding cuts on V/Line, the Economy and Infrastructure Standing Committee of Victorian Parliament heard today.
The former Coalition Government reduced funding to V/Line by more than $70 million. This has put significant pressure on the operational capacity of V/Line, which is being looked at as part of the review of the organisation currently being undertaken.
The Committee also heard today that the Andrews Labor Government provided top-up funding after coming to Government to prop up the operator. This funding was in addition to saving 100 V/Line jobs.
The Labor Government has invested $23 million to install axle counters at level crossings on the Metro network used by VLocity trains, which will fix the boom-gate issues that first arose under the former Government.
In addition, the Labor Government has already ordered 21 new regional carriages, in stark contrast to the former Coalition Government who didn’t order a single V/Line carriage for two years.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
“We’re fixing the problems the former Liberal and National Government helped create when they ripped more than $70 million out of V/Line.”
“You can’t rip millions out of the regional operator and expect services to be unaffected.”
“The Liberal and National parties need to answer for the cuts they made, the carriages they didn’t order and the problems they helped create, which are still impacting on regional passengers today.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020