Transport Matters Party Explained
The Transport Matters Party was an Australian political party active in Victoria.[2] The party was registered with the Victorian Electoral Commission on 30 April 2018, after an application was received by the VEC on 9 January 2018.[3]
Co-founder Rod Barton announced on 23 June 2023 that the party would disband after an unsuccessful membership drive. It was formally dissolved on 28 July 2023.[4]
History
The party was co-founded by Rod Barton and André Baruch, both hire car operators.[5]
Most of the party's members are taxi drivers or taxi licence owners involved in a class action lawsuit against Uber for loss of income between 2014 and 2017, when the company operated in Victoria as an illegal taxicab operation.[6] [7] Uber was legalised in Victoria in August 2017 following the deregulation of the taxi/ride-share industry in the state.
In May 2019, more than 6,000 taxi and car-hire drivers, operators and licence owners across four states commenced the class action in the Victorian Supreme Court.[8]
Transport Matters was registered federally on 24 March 2020.[9] However, the party was voluntarily de-registered federally on 16 December 2021, having never competed at a federal election.[10]
Policies
The party described itself as possessing a centre-left policy agenda; in addition to the party's core focus on transport, it also championed environmental issues and small business interests.[11] The party advocated for major transport projects including the East West Link, then North East Link, the West Gate Tunnel, the Suburban Rail Loop and a fully publicly-owned Melbourne Airport rail line.[12] [13]
The party's policy priorities included:
- Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry
- Addressing Homelessness
- Free Tram Zone
- Regional Bus Services
- Improving the Transport and Infrastructure Network
- Public Transport
Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry
- Opposed to the deregulation of the vehicle for hire, taxicab and hire car industry in Victoria.
- That perpetual taxi and hire car licence holders in Victoria are fully compensated for the compulsory acquisition of their property (licences).
- That Uber entered the Victorian industry illegally in 2017.
- Improve driver income.
- Introduce environmentally sustainable vehicle fleet.
- Minimum ANCAP 5 Star safety rating for commercial passenger vehicles (CPVs).
- Compulsory road worthy certificate required with license renewal.
- Proof of insurance.
- Identification on vehicle that you are a Commercial Passenger Vehicle.
- That CPVs should be exempt from tolls.
Homelessness
- The party supports housing first as 'it is important that every Australian has access to safe, stable and affordable housing."[14]
- Additional crisis and transitional housing.
- Additional resources including housing, social works and mental health workers.
- Early intervention through the provision of additional wrap around services at the crisis and transitional housing stage.
- Need for additional mental health nurses and psychologists.
Public Transport
- Public transport should be free for all passengers under the age of 18 or over the age of 65.
- Should be free for full-time students.
- Should be reduced for post-graduate students.
- Victoria's Free Tram Zone should be extended to include major inner-city hospitals and academic precincts.
- Provision of safe bike storage at every bus, train and tram stop.
- Real time GPS information at every tram, train and bus stop.
- A full review of the bus services in the outer suburbs should be conducted to improve the network.
Bicycle Infrastructure
- The party supports the 'One Meter apart' policy to protect cyclists from traffic.
- Community consultation for the implementation of bike lanes.
- Inclusion of mountain bike trails and bike parks in local council areas.
- Educating young Australians on bike safety.
- Supports the implementation of legislation to protect pedestrians injured by cyclists.
Other Areas
- Improving rural and regional towns ability to connect by looking into alternative bus network and public transport options.
- Removing toll roads and making them publicly owned.
- Increasing transparency between government departments and the public to improve outcomes.
- Improving Australia's take up of electric and hydrogen vehicles and power.
Electoral history
At the 2018 Victorian state election, the party was the beneficiary of a highly convoluted series of preference flows in the group voting ticket for the Legislative Council organised by Glenn Druery. With these beneficial preferences it was estimated that the party could get elected on less than 0.3% of the vote in the Eastern Metropolitan Region.[15] Ultimately, the party polled 0.62% of the vote and Barton was elected to the Legislative Council for a four-year term.
Victorian Legislative Council
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Environment Policy . Transport Matters Party . 19 October 2021.
- Web site: Currently registered parties . . 29 October 2018.
- Web site: Transport Matters Party - new entrant into the political landscape in Victoria . Andre . Baruch . 2 August 2017 . Australia Wide Chauffeur Cars . 29 October 2018.
- Web site: Movie could be made about 'preference whisperer' Glenn Druery . 11 July 2023 . 6 News Australia.
- News: 15 May 2018. Transport Matters Party to contest state poll. Surf Coast Times. 29 October 2018.
- News: Jacks. Timna. 12 May 2018. 'Melbourne grinding to a halt': New political party for transport. en. The Age. 29 October 2018.
- News: 19 October 2018. Victorian taxi, hire drivers to sue Uber for 'hundreds of millions' in lost earnings. The New Daily. 29 October 2018.
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-03/uber-to-face-class-action-against-taxi-and-private-drivers/11073640 Uber 'came to our shores, illegally, like pirates', class action lead plaintiff says
- News: Registration of a political party Transport Matters Party . 31 March 2020 . Australian Electoral Commission.
- Web site: Transport Matters Party Voluntary Deregistration . Australian Electoral Commission.
- Web site: Jacks. Timna. 'Melbourne grinding to a halt': New political party for transport. 9 September 2020. The Age. 12 May 2018 . Fairfax Media.
- Web site: Carey. Adam. Party in the upper house: Who's who on new Victorian crossbench. 9 September 2020. The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 December 2018 . Fairfax Media.
- Web site: Suburban Rail Loop. 2021-04-19. Transport Matters Party. en.
- Web site: Homelessness. 2021-04-19. Transport Matters Party. en.
- Web site: How to Vote for the Victorian Legislative Council. Analyst. Antony Green-ABC Election. 16 November 2018. ABC News. en-AU. 12 December 2018.
