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Victoria public transport fare hikes punishing voters for ‘out of control’ budget, opposition says
Benita Kolovos
Opposition spokesperson for public transport, Richard Riordan, says the Victorian government is punishing commuters by increasing public transport fares in the midst of a cost of living crisis. From 1 July, a single fare will increase from $4.60 to $5 while a daily fare will go from $9.20 to $10. Riordan says:
Andrews’ budget is out of control and the average commuter whether you’re in the city or the country, it’s an extra 10%. And that of course, is only months before fares will go up again in early January. So it’s a sad day. It’s a frustrating day as cost of living pressures continue to rise.
He says the change comes into effect at the same time winter works commence and more than half of Melbourne’s rail network will have bus replacement services:
It’s an incredibly cynical move from the Andrews government in the middle of winter, when they’re set to have nearly 70% of our rail network closed for months, people will be standing in buses outside in queues and paying for the privilege. Once again Victorian commuters will be paying more and getting less because the Andrews government has lost control of the budget … If you’re going to be delivering substantially fewer servicess or less reliability, then it’s a bit rich charging Victorian commuters 10% more for the privilege.
Key events
Ley: ‘we don’t want the referendum to fail, but the proposal as it stands is not acceptable’
Back on the voice, deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley has accused the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, of proceeding with the referendum in order to stick to his “political timeline.”
Earlier this morning, Ley told the Morning Show:
We don’t want the referendum to fail, but the proposal as it stands is not acceptable. Peter Dutton, sensibly, has said let’s press pause, let’s build consensus. This is an offer of friendship, of working constructively with the government.
… If the voice goes down and loses support, it risks the whole mission of reconciliation in this country. Taking a step backwards.
I think it is time for the prime minister to consider whether he just wants to stick to his original timeline, which I believe is a political timeline, or whether he actually, genuinely wants to work with all members across the parliament to support something as critical as constitutional recognition of our First Australians.
Bureau says heaving rainfall in a half hour period increased flash flood impacts
Heavy rainfall of up to 20mm in a half hour resulted in significant increase in flash flood impacts, the bureau said:
The river rises through the Mount Lofty Ranges: we saw through the Onkaparinga river levels exceeded the minor flood level yesterday evening and peak below the moderate flood level in the early hours of this morning in a couple of locations in the upper part of the catchment around Oakbank and Woodside.
There is still a minor flood warning out for the Onkaparinga River. We aren’t expecting to see further significant flooding given there is not any more rainfall in short term forecast for the Mount Lofty Ranges.
Adelaide experiences fifth wettest day in 10 years
The bureau of meteorology provided this update on the situation in South Australia at a press conference a short while ago:
We saw a low pressure system develop across the south [of] the state yesterday. This resulted in some significant and widespread rainfall across South Australia.
The top rainfall totals in 24 hours to 9am were through the Mount Lofty Ranges where we saw totals of around 50-100mm recorded. The top total was at Woodhouse where we saw 96mm.
Across the metropolitan area, we had rainfall totals of around 20-50mm mark through the same timeframe. In Adelaide we saw a 42mm that makes it the wettest day since last June. At the fifth wettest day in the last decade.
The bureau said conditions are easing up today but further showery and wintry conditions are expected across the weekend in association with a secondary deep pressure system. The secondary system will be further south and not as close to the coast.
The latest flood warnings in South Australia after heavy rain overnight:
#FLOOD Advice MESSAGE issued for dam failure at Swamp Rd, Lenswood. If you are in this area you should prepare for flooding. Move valuables to a safe place and, if safe to do so, clear drains and gutters. More info: https://t.co/8DclHt4uMd ID:532/2
— SASES (@SA_SES) June 23, 2023
#FLOOD Watch and Act MESSAGE issued for Waterfall Gully Rd. If you are in this area you should prepare for flooding. Move valuables to a safe place. Consider going to a safer place if the path is clear. More info: https://t.co/E9Fu0uVzPr ID:531/3
— SASES (@SA_SES) June 23, 2023
Queensland scraps Covid-19 alert system amid flu outbreak
Meanwhile AAP has this update on Covid-19 in Queensland:
The state’s traffic light advisory for Covid-19 will be scrapped as the state faces the threat of an early wave of flu cases.
Influenza cases have spiked since the start of winter, with 200 people already being treated in hospital, and are expected to top Covid-19 admissions before the end of the month.
About 250 people are still being treated for Covid-19 in Queensland hospitals, with most patients over the age of 65 and not up to date with their vaccinations.
Health minister Shannon Fentiman told reporters today:
I can announce with the chief health officer that we will be monitoring Covid much like any other respiratory illness.
The traffic lights, as Queenslanders have come to know them, will end from today.
Covid does not pose the same threat that it once did, and we are going to treat it much like we treat the flu.
Victoria records 35 Covid deaths and 244 people in hospital
There were 3,425 new cases in the weekly reporting period, and 10 people are in intensive care.
Numbers continue to drop following the May spike in cases, with this week’s 35 deaths significantly lower than last week’s 113.
This week we reported 3,425 new cases with a daily average hospital occupancy of 244 and 10 patients in ICU. 35 deaths were reported in the past 7 days.
Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives. pic.twitter.com/ZSCQSEF3lS
— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) June 23, 2023
Victoria public transport fare hikes punishing voters for ‘out of control’ budget, opposition says
Benita Kolovos
Opposition spokesperson for public transport, Richard Riordan, says the Victorian government is punishing commuters by increasing public transport fares in the midst of a cost of living crisis. From 1 July, a single fare will increase from $4.60 to $5 while a daily fare will go from $9.20 to $10. Riordan says:
Andrews’ budget is out of control and the average commuter whether you’re in the city or the country, it’s an extra 10%. And that of course, is only months before fares will go up again in early January. So it’s a sad day. It’s a frustrating day as cost of living pressures continue to rise.
He says the change comes into effect at the same time winter works commence and more than half of Melbourne’s rail network will have bus replacement services:
It’s an incredibly cynical move from the Andrews government in the middle of winter, when they’re set to have nearly 70% of our rail network closed for months, people will be standing in buses outside in queues and paying for the privilege. Once again Victorian commuters will be paying more and getting less because the Andrews government has lost control of the budget … If you’re going to be delivering substantially fewer servicess or less reliability, then it’s a bit rich charging Victorian commuters 10% more for the privilege.
Benita Kolovos
Victorian Greens condemn the state government’s decision to raise ‘Myki fares above inflation’
The Victorian Greens has lashed out at the state government’s decision to increase fares by almost 10% – saying it will make cost-of-living pressures worse for commuters.
From 1 July, a single public transport fare will rise from $4.60 to $5 while a daily fare will go from $9.20 to $10. The changes amount to an 8.6% cent hike, which is above the 6.8% increase in the consumer price index over the past 12 months. It is the first fare increase since 1 January 2022.
Greens MP, Sam Hibbins, said the increase would make inflation worse:
Urban transport fares is a measure used by the ABS to calculate the inflation rate. By raising Myki fares above inflation, the Victorian Labor government is actually making it worse. Governments should be lowering public transport fares for everyone, not stinging people who are already feeling the pinch.
A spokesperson for the government said they froze public transport fares in 2021 and increased them below CPI in 2022, while this year’s increase was delayed by six months to ease pressures on Victorians. They also spruiked Labor’s election commitment to bring regional fares in line with metropolitan Melbourne, which has been in place since March.
The spokesperson said:
Since the introduction of the regional fare cap, Victorians have saved millions of dollars – travelling from the regions or exploring every corner of regional Victoria.
That’s it from the PM’s press conference. Now for some news out of Victoria’s parliament.
‘No-alition’: Albanese lumps Greens and the Coalition together for delaying future housing fund
Albanese lumped the Greens together with the Coalition as part of what he calls the “No-alition” after they joined to delay consideration of the government’s housing future fund this week.
The Greens and the Coalition combined in what is a new No-alition in blocking this legislation.
It is completely irrational for the Greens political party to say they support more public housing and then block legislation of a $10bn housing future Australia fund which will result in 30,000 additional social housing units including 4000 reserved for women and children escaping domestic violence.
The time for these political games is well past. This is not the first time it’s been deferred, it’s the second. I don’t understand what the thought processes are behind doing this. It is quite irrational
Solicitor general backs government’s view on housing bill’s failure to pass, PM says
Our chief political correspondent Paul Karp asks about the fate of the stalled housing bill and Albanese reveals the solicitor general backs the government’s view that Senate’s decision to twice delay the housing future fund constitutes a failure to pass the bill.
Karp:
What does the solicitor-general think of the housing bill and has he advised that it being delayed twice is a failure to pass?
Albanese:
We have received that advice. … we won’t be releasing advice to the government because we don’t do that.
Karp:
Does it back your public statements that that’s a failure to pass?
Albanese:
Yes, it does.
Paul will bring you more on this shortly.
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