Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader and Transport spokesperson
While encouraging the use of Metro transport through a three week free fare trial is a sound enough initiative, congestion in and around greater Hobart will only be marginally improved by the Liberals' announcement.
This is tinkering around the edges of a chronic and worsening problem. A three week trial is not enough.
A very significant percentage of commuters leave for work after 7am, and no provision appears to be being made for their return home.
The Hodgman Government needs to get serious about easing traffic congestion in Hobart and Southern Tasmania.
Cheaper or free travel for students and other low income earners needs to be offered on an ongoing basis. This will lower their cost of living and make it easier to get to school, training, university, work and community activities.
We also need to see a real plan for the medium to long term and funding allocated to address decades of underinvestment in public transport.
More buses on more routes, improved bicycle and pedestrian lanes, electric vehicle charging stations, light rail to Brighton - all need to be in the mix.
An investment in cleaner public transport makes economic, social and environmental good sense.
The traffic and delays seem to worsen exponentially. There's no time for tinkering around the edges of the problem.