Katie Hall MP the ALP Member for Footscray recently placed a press release on her page but also shared it on social media namely Facebook and Instagram.
The press release provides for many statements about the great job the government is doing in removing trucks from local roads, but is this really true?
Having seen the post on Facebook by Katie Hall I decided to post a reply drawing her attention to the performance of her freight policies and track record on delivering important projects that would reduce the number of dangerous trucks on our roads across the state also in Metro Melbourne.
Of course I was referring to my article called Why does Vicroads permit road trains to use suburban streets in Melbourne? which she did not seem to like very much. You see politicians do not like being questioned on the media diatribe they have no immediate trouble producing. it is produced with a view of making us feel a lot better about them and embedded with the concept that they can and should be seen to be achieving something when really I am not.
I failed to see and others on the thread also failed to see how this boondoggle media announcement about a coffee machine and truck parking will reduce any real material changes to trucks not using local streets to get goods to and from the Port of Melbourne.
Could Port Rail Shuttles achieve this? Yes sure but they have not been delivered after being promised for nearly a decade. Would upgrades to the rail network and more inland port terminals assist? Yes but they are not being delivered.
Perhaps the Westgate Tunnel project is the answer? You should read: The significantly flawed Westgate Tunnel Project a blight on Melbourne
But the state is working really well in using rail to move freight to and from the ports and around the state right? You should read this: Only 2% of freight between Melbourne and Sydney goes by rail.
What about improvements around Melbourne to create better rail and road interface? Nope you should read this: More trucks on roads feared as long-promised freight hub in Melbourne’s west put on ice
What about the long requested intermodal terminal for Ouyen to reduce trucks on the highway to the port? Nope you need to read this: Proposed Sunraysia Mallee Port Link rail terminal at Ouyen has not gone ahead.
What about the Murray Basin Rail Project a massive $1billion investment in rail in the north west of the state? You know the marque freight rail project of the ALP. Nope never been completed and has made rail more expensive to use from Mildura and the train takes longer to reach the port and return due to the bungled project.
Please read this: Victorian Government’s continued failure will see thousands of extra trucks on Victoria’s Roads
What about the rail terminal at Ballarat West announced a few years ago and again announced and received federal funding? Nope that is not finished nor is any work really underway. Read this: Intermodal Freight Hub Works Begin At BWEZ (2022). Nothing happening.
What about support for more rail freight in the regions? No way the ALP Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards has made it clear she sees the way to handle the massive freight task across Victoria is more trucks and more bicycles. You really need to read this: First steps for rail trail project between Maryborough and Castlemaine
Forgive me please Katie Hall MP for not believing anything you tell me about removing trucks from our roads. Every project you have been involved in as a government to take trucks off our roads has fallen short of expectations.
Well she did not forgive me and decided to block me from seeing her Facebook posts and removed my post as a fellow Facebook user advised.
I guess transparency is not high on the list over in the MP’s Footscray offices.
She as the member for Footscray should be putting plans in place to remove trucks from the roads in her area and making them safer. You calling her out has caused her to panic or her media people to panic as no politicians liked to be proved wrong. Good call on this as the idea of removing trucks from the port area has been touted for years and no projects to do it have ever been delivered. This project will not help either more smoke and mirrors.
I think if MP don’t listen to the people, they need to fired and deregistered never to able to run for office never again……I think their automatic tile of being called “Honourable” needs to be stripped from their roles….it should just called representative MP of Footscray, Not Honourable [ insert person’s name here].
It makes them very uppity and arrogant…..
There are no honourable politicians in Australia, well maybe just a few.
The post is a goos summary of how inaction on the part of the government and deliberate inaction is causing more and more trucks. Many failed or delayed rail freight projects adding to the issues. These will never be completed because they will impact transurban tolling.
Jacinta Allan is no better than Jeff Kennett.