Illawarra Greens

The Illawarra Greens are committed to affordable transport for all, at all times. We need fewer cars and freight on the road and a more extensive public transport system and rail freight system, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, reduce congestion and provide fairer and more equitable access to mobility.
To achieve this the Greens would:

• Increase public transport, particularly train services outside of peak hours.

• Reduce car dependency.

• Improve links to rail stations by walking, bike and bus.

• Design all new roads, bridges and upgrades to be safe for bicycles and reallocate road building funds to the construction of a comprehensive bicycle network;

• Introduce integrated ticketing.

• Increase funding for rail safety and maintenance.

• Require the road haulage industry to pay the true costs of its operations.

• Target the increase of public transport use by 30%

• Have every rail platform staffed.

• Toilets on all trains to Sydney.

• No new freeways or tollways.

• Get freight off the road and onto trains by completing the Maldon - Dumbarton rail link to expand Port Kembla

Jobs note:
More jobs for train and bus drivers and platform staff. Improved public transport and quicker, safer ways to access it will help unemployed people find jobs, get to them and keep them.

The cost of running a car is at least $250 a fortnight: that’s 60% of the unemployment benefit. The NRMA put the running cost of the cheapest car in the 2006 survey (a Kia Rio 1.6L) at $226 per fortnight: and that’s if you can afford the outlay to buy a late model, fuel efficient car. The ‘average family car’ costs $260 per week which is one quarter of average weekly earnings (NRMA Vehicle Operating Costs Survey July 2006; ABS May 2006). Newstart allowance is $420.90 (Centrelink, Sept 2006).

Economic note: Costs to state offset by increased productive and leisure time, reduced environmental and cost impacts of car traffic.