$1200 rail bet

THE Napthine Government has announced that public transport users will be able to travel across Zone 1 + 2 for the price of a Zone 1 fare.
For commuters who travel daily across Zone 1 + 2 this will mean an annual saving of around $1200.
For people travelling from Cardinia Road, Officer, Beaconsfield or Berwick stations to the city, this will mean a saving of around $5 a day; a real saving for family budgets to ease cost of living pressures.
At the time Labor and Daniel Andrews said they supported this policy.
But now the cat is out of the bag. Labor’s 2014 Platform for the State Election makes no commitment to slashing the cost of public transport fares across Zone 1 + 2.
Daniel Andrews is trying to bluff his way through the election campaign – and you’ll pay for it.
This is on top of Labor’s appalling record when it comes to public transport investment, punctuality, reliability and safety.
Since coming to government the Coalition:
* Has added 1,078 new train services and 3,870 additional bus trips per week;
* Has embarked upon a transformative rail infrastructure program including the $2-2.5 billion Dandenong Rail Corridor upgrade and the $8.5-11 billion Melbourne Rail Link that will separate our busiest lines and deliver a rail link to the airport;
* Has purchased 43 new VLocity rail cars for the regional network;
* Is purchasing 40 new trains for the metropolitan network;
* Is delivering 50 new E-Class trams;
* Has improved reliability and punctuality across the network;
* Reduced the rate of fare evasion; and
* Increased passenger safety with 751 PSOs deployed at 118 stations around Melbourne.
If you vote Labor at the election, there is no guarantee that the price of Zone 1 + 2 fares will be cut.
Are you willing to bet $1200 on Daniel Andrews and Labor keeping their word?
Brad Battin MP,
Member for Gembrook.