BAYSIDE: Free transport for kids
Tim Richardson, Mordialloc MLA (pictured), says the State Govern-ment’s plan to provide free public transport for children, will particularly help the local electorate.
“This one is an absolute banger for the Mordialloc electorate,” Mr Richardson told Parlkiament.
“ This is one of the highest populated education areas in the state.
“The Mentone education precinct has so many students coming up and down the Frankston train line and on buses accessing their place of education, some of the best education facilities and teachers you will see in the state.
“So to have an announcement that looks at how we support families during cost-of-living times and to make sure students are supported is truly inspiring policy, and I thank the Premier and the Minister for Public and Active Transport for announcing this policy, because it will benefit so many families in my community.
“If you spend enough time in my patch and you go to Mordialloc train station, you will see kids at Mordialloc College getting off or you will see Parkdale Secondary kids getting off to go on their destination. “They have got there normally on a yearly ticket, because they are going up and down each and every day.
“That on average per student is about $755. That is a parent or a grandparent or guardian who is having to fork out that amount – money that they have had to find during some of the more challenging times in the family budgets to make ends meet.
“And then you go to Parkdale train station, you see St Bede’s and Kilbreda legends going north towards Mentone, Mentone Grammar kids, Mentone Girls’ Grammar.
“If you go a bit further up towards Mentone, you have got Mentone Girls’ Secondary College students and you have got Beaumaris Secondary College students. “And then to the north some of the constituents go to Cheltenham Secondary College.
“One thing is consistent and clear: the impact it has on school budgets, with uniforms and books and all the essentials that help our kids learn. “They will be met with some of the school saving bonus payments that we have had as well to support communities. “At the same time, those transport costs have been a huge impact. To think, for a family of three kids who are travelling up and down the Frankston train line, that that may save up to $2200 per year is absolutely amazing.
“It will make such
a massive difference and make sure that we are taking pressure off Victorian families when they need it most.
“They know that the Premier and the public transport minister and me as the proud member for Mordi-alloc are on their side when they need it most.”