About 100 people attended an election forum on transport in the Moreland local council area with some candidates on September 27. The Victorian election is on November 24.
Cindy O’Connor, Labor’s candidate for Brunswick, talked up the government’s record, saying the metro rail tunnel, currently under construction, will allow more trains on the Upfield line which passes through Moreland. She also spoke positively about the program of removing level crossings, currently under way.
Fiona Patten, the Reason Party member of the upper house from the multi-member Northern Metropolitan region, said she would argue for the duplication of the Upfield line, the linking of bike paths and improved disability access.
Evan Mulholland, a Liberal Party candidate for the Northern Metropolitan region, said the Liberals support all the big road projects — the Northeast Link, West Link and East-West Link. He also advocated more Protective Service Officers (PSOs) on railways.
Tim Read, the Greens candidate for Brunswick, supported spending money on public transport rather than more tollways. He called for more frequent train services on the Upfield line, as well as more buses and to extend their hours of operation. He also said that parking on Sydney Road should end and the space given over to cycle lanes.
The Victorian Socialists had asked to be on the panel, but were refused. Sue Bolton, second on the Victorian Socialists ticket for the Northern Metropolitan region, did speak from the floor however about the urgent need for more trains on the Upfield line and for an extension of the West Coburg tram line to Glenroy. Jacob Andrewartha, also from the Victorian Socialists, pointed to the need to lower the cost of public transport and highlighted the issue of PSOs bullying young people.