Up from the Underworld

I have just returned to Melbourne from the launch of a new book, Up from the Underworld by Andrew Reeves.

As a part of the launch we were offered, and I took, the opportunity of a quick tour of the coal mine.  Our guide, Jack Fleming, was a sprightly 81 years old and lead us deep into the underworld.  Just travelling down to the first coal seam and back was exhausting and a very small taster of the atrocious living conditions miners had to put up with in this place.

If you are ever in Wonthaggi, a tour of the state coal mine is an absolute must.

Tis an autumn for an election

I am running for election as a delegate to ALP State Conference from my local area. For the record I thought I might reproduce parts of my letter to ALP members here...

As you know over the past few years I have been a member of the Coburg branch executive, including secretary. Currently I am also a member of the party’s Transport Policy Committee.

Labor, being in power at all three levels of government, has a historic opportunity to change our nation for the better. We need progressive voices at state conference that will to provide a vital counter to conservative ideas and interests.

I have been endorsed by the Socialist Left, and if elected I will support progressive policies such as:

• Planning for a sustainable future, including the expansion of public transport and opposing unnecessary and expensive road projects
• More respect for unions from Labor governments – especially in the vital areas of education and health.
  
• Economic policies that are grounded in a desire to make poverty history.
• Support for diversity and multiculturalism within a framework of respect for human rights, equality for women and the rule of law;

I am committed to reporting back to the Coburg/Brunswick branch following each State Conference and taking up your issues at that forum.

Congestion & Rentseekers

Last night Carlo Carli, State Member for Brunswick, made a landmark speech to the Fabian Society in at Trades Hall.

His speech examines some of the myths about congestion and the power of the investment banks like Macquarie in distorting and directing the direction of infrastructure and transport policy in Victoria. Its a thought provoking speech from someone who from 2000 to 2006 years was at the heart of transport policy making in the Victorian Government.

The issues raised are deserving of debate in the community.

The speech is available here.

East West Tunnel

A letter to the editor was published in Melbourne's Age today.

PREMIER Brumby has been sold a pup if he thinks another freeway will solve traffic congestion (The Age, 1/8). A tunnel linking the Tullamarine and Eastern freeways will only deliver more cars, more efficiently into our inner suburbs.

We can't build our way out of congestion. However, we can manage it by encouraging travel at peak periods on other modes of transport, or by pricing (through congestion charges) car travel in the inner-city during peak periods and by expanding and improving public transport. And if the Premier feels the need for a big project, why not build a second city loop

What do we do about Connex? (Part One)

Its not hard to appreciate the immense fustration of train travellers in Melbourne right now. I'm lucky in that I use trams, which are an excellent mode of transport, and have got a lot better since privatisation.

Its quite grating to hear me write that - that something could get better since privatisation, but in the case of Melbourne's trains and trams this is the case. Figures published in The Age today (not avilable online) show that since 1998-99, the last year of public operation of the system, reliability and cancellations have improved.

For trams, the difference is marked, with relibaility up from 67.3% to 83.9%. Cancellations are down from 1.5% to 0.2%. In trains the performance is more mixed. Reliability has remained the same 94% compared with 93.9%, though train cancellations down from 1% to 0.5%.

On almost all measures the operators Yarra Trams and Connex have exceeded the benchmarks acheived by the old Public Transport Commission.

Only in one benchmark has the syetem not improved - public transport is costing us more that in 1998-99 then today. The former Kennett Government model of privatisation promised a decreasing subsidy, the gap which would be met by the companies (then four) improving patronage and services. This was flawed and by 2002 the syetm pretty much collapsed financially when National Express, who operated M>Train and M>Tram, pulled out.

The model of privatisation was then completely re-worked. Indeed what happened next could be construed as nationalisation. V>Line was taken back into public hands. Control over timetabling, ownership of rolling stock, planning of services, extensions and new initiatives was taken back into government control. The Government then contracted out the operation of the system to two companies, Yarra (who runs the trams) and Connex (who run's trains).

More realistic subsidies have been offered, services have been increased and a common network wide branding managed by a new body, Metlink Melbourne, has been established.

But like all, the Government and the operators have been stung by history. It is to the sharp end of history's bite that the next part will turn to.