POLITICIANS are sometimes accused of taking a free ride at taxpayers’ expense but a new initiative could see Victorian seniors enjoy free public transport.
Frankston MP Geoff Shaw, no stranger to the pain transport costs can inflict after being sanctioned by the Parliamentary Privileges Committee over the improper personal use of a parliamentary vehicle, will introduce a private members bill if he is re-elected that would see seniors travel for free on trains, buses and trams.
“For those seniors on pensions, travel can absorb a significant part of their income on a weekly basis and this can cause many to become isolated as they reduce their travel in order to cut down on living expenses,” Mr Shaw said.
Elderly rights campaigner John Murray lobbied Mr Shaw to back the prospect of free public transport for seniors.
“I approached Geoff because he was an independent… I tried some of the other state MPs, gave them a leaflet and told them to give me a ring and none of them got back to me,” Mr Murray said.
“If Premier Napthine thinks Victoria is the greatest state in the greatest country in the world as he’s said on previous occasions, why don’t we have free public transport for seniors when New Zealand and countries throughout Europe do? Why don’t we have it here?”
Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder said can already travel in two zones on weekend for free.
“A senior can travel from Frankston to Whittlesea or Sunbury for $1.85 each way on weekdays, as the maximum Seniors fare is $3.90 for a daily,” Mr Mulder said.
“We will continue to provide the two free V/Line free travel vouchers that Melbourne metropolitan seniors receive annually. We have also announced that we’re expanding the Seniors Card to more than 160,000 working seniors in Victoria.”
Mr Shaw’s push for free public transport travel for seniors comes at the start of the official campaign period ahead of the state election on 29 November.
Voters’ dissatisfaction with public transport, especially on the Frankston line, is regarded as one of the main reasons Mr Shaw won the Frankston seat for the Liberals from then Labor MP Alastair Harkness at 2010’s poll.
Mr Shaw subsequently resigned from the Liberal Party’s parliamentary branch in early 2013, unhappy the party had not backed him over allegations he misused his parliamentary car and fuel card.
He severed all ties with the Liberals in March this year, quitting as a party member just before the party was due to hold a meeting to decide whether to expel him.
Victoria’s Office of Public Prosecutions dropped all dishonesty charges against Mr Shaw in December last year but that did not stop the Victorian Parliament’s Privileges Committee in June this year finding Mr Shaw allowed his parliamentary car and fuel card to be used by employees of his hardware business.
Mr Shaw faces a tough political battle to remain Frankston’s MP, holding a slim margin of just 0.4 per cent after electorate boundaries redistribution.
Liberal Party candidate Sean Armistead and Labor candidate Paul Edbrooke hope to win the seat for their respective parties.
The Times sought comment from opposition spokeswoman for public transport Jill Hennessy as to whether Labor would back Mr Shaw’s free seniors public transport proposal but did not hear back before publication.
