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Public transport

Public transport is vital in the provision of affordable transport and to address climate change.

Rising fuel costs threaten to cripple large areas of our metropolitan areas unless alternative transport is provided. The worst hit areas are the outer suburbs. Inadequate public transport means people have no alternative but to use their cars, in spite of spiralling costs. Evidence suggests that if fast efficient transit services are provided, they will be used.

The Australian Greens are working to shift federal funding away from roads to public passenger transport, which does not currently receive any federal funds leaving this vital responsibility entirely to the states.

The Greens are working to remedy this: we want to redirect 25% of the $22.3 billion AusLink 2 funding scheme for 2009-14 to metropolitan and regional public transport projects, rising to 50% after 2014. We also propose public passenger transport be given priority in the allocation of funds from the $20 billion ‘Building Australia Fund.

Government should not waste opportunity to create sustainable cities for the future

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Tuesday 6th January 2009, 3:37pm

The Australian Greens say plans to overhaul the Sydney metro could create a sustainable city for the future, but only if they are underpinned by public transport and affordable housing.

"The plans reported in the media today are an example of what the federal government could achieve through its Infrastructure Australia Fund. However, urban consolidation is only ever effective if there's provision for affordable housing and developments are networked with fast, affordable public transport."

Federal Funding for Metropolitan Public Transport

Estimates Transcripts | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Tuesday 6th January 2009, 12:09pm

Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Supplementary Budget Estimates October 2008
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

Senator LUDLAM-I wonder how much of your work is in metropolitan public transport?

Ms McNally-In terms of quantifying that I would have to take that on notice, but there has been a significant growth under this government.

Senator LUDLAM-Would it be possible perhaps just to break down some funding over the last two or three years?

Rudd off the rails on coal

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Friday 12th December 2008, 4:58pm

The Australian Greens Transport spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam today said the Prime Minister's announcement of $580 million dollars to fast track coal transport is an "horrific use of tax payer funds" and an opportunity to embrace a ‘Green New Deal' has been missed.

"The Prime Minister's decision to inject more than $500 million dollars into railways to transport coal from the Hunter Valley to Newcastle is a disastrous outcome for tax payers and the environment. Once again the government is using tax payer funds to help the coal industry, despite the industry being past its used-by date and environmentally unsustainable," said Senator Ludlam.

Greens: PM should boost public transport spending

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Friday 12th December 2008, 4:52pm

The Australian Greens are calling on the Federal Government to increase its investment in public transport, with the Prime Minister due to announce more infrastructure spending later today.

"The Prime Minister has said this morning that the government may be pumping more money into public infrastructure to try and give the economy a boost. Kevin Rudd should seize the opportunity to recognise that by investing in environmental outcomes like public transport and energy efficiency, the government can achieve an economic benefit," said Australian Greens Transport spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam.

Public transport key to averting rising mortgage defaults in outer metro area

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Thursday 4th December 2008, 6:22pm

The Australian Greens have successfully moved a motion for a Senate Inquiry into Public Transport today, and are proposing substantial Commonwealth funding for public transport including allocations under the Building Australia Fund, which is being debated in Parliament today.

Senator Scott Ludlam said creating a fast, efficient light rail network in Perth’s areas of high mortgage default will help rescue land values and improve services.

Greens Launch Public Transport Senate Inquiry

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Thursday 4th December 2008, 6:15pm

World-class public transport must become a key component of nation building in the age of climate change and peak oil, and today the Australian Greens successfully initiated a Senate Inquiry to begin the process.

"This is has never been undertaken in Australia before," said Greens public transport spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.

Motion for an Inquiry into Public Transport

Speech | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Thursday 4th December 2008, 12:00am

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (9.48 am)-
I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee for inquiry and report by 18 June 2009:

The investment of Commonwealth and State funds in public passenger transport infrastructure and services, with reference to the August 2005 report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage, Sustainable Cities, and the February 2007 report of the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport committee, Australia's future oil supply and alternative transport fuels, including:

Speech on Nation Building Funds Bill

Speech | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Thursday 4th December 2008, 12:00am

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (12.26 pm)-

I would like to follow on with some comments, in the same vein as those of Senator Milne, about the importance of seeing these funds as essentially a once in- a-generation opportunity to contribute to the transition to a low-carbon economy that Australia so desperately needs. I would like to preface my remarks by saying that there was an unreasonably short time frame given for the Nation-building Funds Bill 2008, the nation- building Funds (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 and the COAG Reform Fund Bill 2008 to be reviewed.

Infrastructure Australia

Estimates Transcripts | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Sunday 26th October 2008, 3:26pm

Infrastructure Australia is an agency established by the Commonwealth Government to advise on how to spend upward of $20 billion on national infrastructure projects. IA has been taking public submissions and bids from State and Territory Governments for a couple of months; now it's getting close to crunch time. How the Board intends to factor in climate change and peak oil still seems to be a work in progres...

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee October 21, 2008

Light Rail E-petition

Greens TV | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Monday 13th October 2008, 11:26am

Greens MP Ronan Lee, Member of Indooroopilly and Greens Senator Scott Ludlam (Western Australia) discuss the Light Rail E-Petition and the Bligh government's underground light rail proposal.

Sign the E-Petition

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