Social Inclusion and Transport Policy in Melbourne, Curitiba and the United Kingdom

Traditionally transport disadvantage, when it has been considered, has been approached as urban studies, economic or environmental studies phenomenon. Transport policies have been advanced as ways of improving citizens lives through increased amenity, reducing the cost of congestion and reducing carbon footprints. Although the social policy effects of transport were always present, they have been less explicit.

With more recent attempts to impose a social exclusion narrative on the problems of transportation there is hope that a more holistic understanding of transport policy can emerge.

Moreland Intergrated Transport Strategy

A while ago I made a submission to the public consultation on the Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy.

Submission on Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy

Thankyou for the opportunity to comment on the draft Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy (MITS). Transport planning is a neglected part of our local planning policy regime and the gap between the old MITS (1998) and this new strategy of over ten years is one that should never be repeated.

All too often transport planning is ignored or neglected when we make decisions about our local neighbourhoods. Decision makers and planners are seduced by land use, height and other planning issues and come to transport near the end of planning processes. This is not a criticism solely aimed at local processes. It can be said with some authority that the neglect of transport planning lies at the heart of most metropolitan wide planning schemes in Melbourne from the 1954 Planning Scheme right through to Melbourne 2030.

Tax the Fat Cats

The Australia Institute has released a paper proposing a tax on fat cat executives earning over $1 million a year. Such a tax, if implemented, would go a long way to introducing some more fairness into our tax system.