Public transport stuffed: Costa must budget

"Treasurer Costa must make deep changes to funding priorities, starting at next week's budget, to ensure adequate public transport options for commuters living in Sydney and other major cities, regional centres and coastal areas," Ms Rhiannon said.

Lee Rhiannon currently has a bill before NSW Parliament calling on the Premier to establish a Peak Oil Taskforce so NSW can properly respond to the oil crisis.

"Transport Minister John Watkins must immediately create more capacity by adding more carriages to trains, increasing the frequency of services and putting on additional buses.

"Minister Watkins also needs to take urgent action to completely refashion public transport in Sydney and regional areas, requiring a massive investment of funding.

"Premier Iemma must place an immediate moratorium on oil dependent infrastructure like new motorways and spend heavily on mass commuter transport.

"Sydney is not alone in feeling a public transport crunch from rising petrol prices stemming from peak oil.  

"Brisbane, Perth and the USA are all experiencing big surges in public transport use as people abandon their cars in search of cheaper ways of getting around.

"For a decade the NSW Labor government has been obsessed with building new motorways, which in the coming years will become white elephants as petrol prices grow.

"The obsession of the Premier's federal colleagues with petrol price tinkering will provide no relief for motorists in the long term.

"Much more is needed to mitigate the pressing problem of the demand for the world's oil outstripping supply.

"Expanding public light and heavy rail, bus and ferry services in Sydney will play a major role in the response to peak oil," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

[via Lee Rhiannon MLC Media Release Friday 30 May 2008 link]