Categories
Bentleigh Politics and activism

Long live the queen

The electorate office of new member for Bentleigh, Elizabeth Miller, has been vandalised. The stencil, which reads “Long live the queen” with an image of Miller, appears to indicate some preparation was involved. Given the “The king is dead, long live the queen”, I can’t work out if this is pro-Miller, or pro-ex-member Hudson, or  ... [More]

Categories
Bentleigh Politics and activism

Sign of the times

A sign of the times: former Bentleigh MP Rob Hudson’s office, now vacated and up for rent. I wonder if anything gets handed across to the new member Elizabeth Miller’s office? In Federal land, Greens MP for Melbourne Adam Bandt took over former member Lindsay Tanner’s office, but I suspect there was a big clearout  ... [More]

Categories
Politics and activism transport

Did these trains lose Labor the election?

Among the 12 (or more) seats lost by Labor in Saturday’s election were four in Melbourne’s south: Frankston, Carrum, Mordialloc, and Bentleigh. What do these have in common? The Frankston line. The Frankston line is the poorest performing in Melbourne. While overcrowding has eased since the June timetable change, punctuality is the worst in the  ... [More]

Categories
Politics and activism PTUA transport

Voting for PT

So how am I voting tomorrow? No comment. But I will tell you what I know about the policies on my pet topic: The Greens, as you might expect, have the best, most comprehensive public transport policy (though it’s not flawless by any means). Of course, we all know they are unlikely to be forming  ... [More]

Categories
transport

Thursday morning on the Frankston line

This morning on the Frankston line… Election stunt? The latest Metro Trains Authorised Officer uniforms? Year 12s last day/Schoolies celebration? Is there a Flashmob happening somewhere this morning? Or is it just the latest fashion? I wonder where they keep their Metcards/Mykis? (Caption on their bums: MorphSuits.com)

Categories
PTUA transport

Both sides to build Southland Station

I’m very pleased. After years of pressure, both major parties have pledged to build Southland station. The Liberals promised it last week, and yesterday the ALP came to the party. (As recently as last week, I ran into ALP’s Rob Hudson at Bentleigh station and he said he was pushing for it. At the time  ... [More]

Categories
PTUA transport

Confusion galore

Find out more — and send an email to your local MP and state election candidates outlining your concerns about public transport — at www.PTthatworks.org.au Update Wednesday: Labor has now released its transport policy.

Categories
transport

W-class trams

I love W-class trams. They truly are an icon of the city. In my youth I fondly remember watching the road ahead from the seat just behind (and to the left) of the driver, as we rolled up and down the hills on Balaclava Road. Or hot summers in the seat next to the (open)  ... [More]

Categories
Politics and activism transport

Spinning faster

Graph: The number of transport-related govt press releases is steadily increasing each week

Categories
transport

Who to vote for in Transport?

Please note that as always, the views expressed on my blog are my own, and are not necessarily a PTUA position. The state election’s about six weeks away. The Opposition has been criticised for not having a transport policy, but it’s important to note that Labor hasn’t said much about what they’d do, either. Sure,  ... [More]

Categories
Politics and activism

Stop slacktivism now!

Pic from Indymedia So you’ve got a beef? Something’s wrong with the world and you want it fixed? Don’t be fooled — joining a Facebook group won’t change it. Adding a ribbon to your Twitter avatar won’t change it. Leaving a comment on a blog won’t change it. All these forms of Slactivism may help  ... [More]