Minister for Public Transport and Member for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan, today revealed a secret Liberal-National Coalition plan to cut 100 V/line jobs.
Speaking at Bendigo Railway Station with Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards, Ms Allan said she was angry about the cuts the previous Coalition Government intended to force on the regional operator.
The cuts, which Ms Allan has intervened to stop, would have forced V/Line to reduce cleaning services and station staffing hours and imposed other service reductions on the line.
Ms Allan criticised the Liberal-National Coalition for keeping the plan secret in the lead up to the election, obviously planning to ambush regional Victorians with the cuts if they had been re-elected.
The Andrews Labor Government wants to grow V/Line, not dismantle it. The Labor Government will purchase 20 new VLocity V/Line carriages to deliver better regional train services and create Victorian jobs.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport and Employment, and Member for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan
“I am outraged about the Liberal-National Coalition’s secret plan to cut V/Line staff and have intervened to stop it.”
“The cuts would have meant dirty trains, fewer staff members at stations and deteriorating services for Bendigo and the rest of regional Victoria.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards
“These cuts would have been disastrous for our community and I’m relieved that the Labor Government has stopped them.”
“The Liberal-National Coalition should hang their heads in shame.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020