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Latrobe Valley Students Pay Unfair FaresCalls to abolish the unfair ticketing system. By Portal Admin - 3rd March 2019 - Back to News Member for Morwell Russell Northe has today in Parliament called on the Minister for Public Transport to abolish the unfair ticketing system that leaves Latrobe Valley families and students unfairly out of pocket.
"Despite asking two basic questions in Question Time for this issue to be resolved, it was extremely disappointing that the Minister failed to acknowledge the inequity that exists for Latrobe Valley students; however I will continue to fight for a fairer system and better services for local commuters" said Mr Northe
"Last year the Andrews Government by way of a media release announced that:
"A more affordable Regional Student Passes will also be available from term 1 next year, which will increase the discount for regional students to 50 per cent of the yearly cost of concession travel".
"But, I was disgusted to discover that the discounted travel rates for the newly announced Regional Student Pass for 2019, do not apply for our students in the Latrobe Valley", said Mr Northe.
The discounted Regional Student Pass is currently offered to the following Victorian areas;
Southwest (Warrnambool): $235 per year
Colac: $235 per year
Portland: $235 per year
Geelong: $333 per year
Ballarat: $333 per year
Bendigo: $235 per year
"I think it is grossly unfair that families of Latrobe Valley students do not have access to reduced fares like many other regional students. Latrobe Valley students only have access to the Victorian Pass, which costs $607.00 per year and this is simply injust", said Mr Northe.
"I have been contacted by many furious parents who have children travelling on the train (when they’re running, of course), from Morwell to Trafalgar for school, and the Victorian Pass – which has increased in cost in 2019 – means they are now paying more than ever, for sub-standard public transport", said Mr. Northe.
"Today, I’ve called upon the Minister, to fix the broken fare system that disadvantages Latrobe Valley students over other regional students, adhere to their commitment of "more affordable" student fares in 2019, and stop disadvantaging our students in Latrobe Valley, by allowing them to access the discounts awarded to holders of a Regional Students Pass".
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: support@gippsland.com

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