Latest news with #GabrielleWilliams
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
New files reveal how Dan Andrews allocated $6.5million in taxpayer dollars to boost the Voice as support plummeted across the country
Dan Andrews' Labor government invested millions in the Yes campaign at the eleventh hour of the failed Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum. In September 2023, three weeks before Australians' cast their vote, funds budgeted to support Victoria's pathway to Indigenous Treaty were reassigned. Briefing files, revealed by the Herald Sun on Wednesday, found the state government approved the reallocation of $6.5million to boost the 'Yes' campaign - as part of a movement from governments in all Australian states and territories. In February 2023, each committed to the National Cabinet's Statement of Intent, supporting a national, constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament. Former Victorian assistant treasurer Danny Pearson approved the 'reprioritisation' of funds which was signed off by then-minister for treaty and First Peoples of Australia, Gabrielle Williams, on September 25. In the fortnight leading up to the referendum on October 14, support for the Voice plummeted to 34 per cent, reaching its lowest ebb. But the funding was not used and was re-allocated back to the Treaty process. 'The Victorian Government did not spend any money on the Commonwealth Voice referendum,' a state government spokesperson said. In that crucial period, a Newspoll conducted by The Australian found the 'No' vote outnumbered the 'Yes' case in every demographic category. Warren Mundine, who strongly advocated for the No campaign, told the Herald Sun the approval of the funding was a 'disgrace'. 'It was quite definite that the Voice was going to be thrown away,' he said. 'The Victorian government are happy to just leak money.' The First Peoples Assembly of Victoria declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. The revelation comes as discussion of The Voice was reinvigorated this year. Foreign Minister Penny Wong claimed in April, during her first podcast interview, that there will one day be a Voice. 'I think we'll look back on it in 10 years' time and it'll be a bit like marriage equality,' Senator Wong told the Betoota Talks podcast. 'I always used to say, marriage equality, which took us such a bloody fight to get that done, and I thought, all this fuss. 'It'll become something, it'll be like, people go "did we even have an argument about that?"' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly dismissed the notion of holding another referendum.
The Guardian
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Victoria announces free public transport for under 18s, as state's debt projected to rise
Every Victorian child will get free public transport from 1 January next year, the state government has pledged. A new youth myki, valid across the state, will save families up to $755 a year (the cost of a yearly student pass) under the scheme. Anyone under 18 in non-Myki areas will also be eligible to travel free. The benefit will apply to all forms of public transport including trams, trains, buses and coach services. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The premier, Jacinta Allan, said it meant 'free public transport for every child, every day, everywhere'. 'Families are doing it tough and I'm on their side,' she said. The government says more than one million children and their families will benefit. The program will cost $318m over four years. The public transport minister, Gabrielle Williams, said it would save 'many struggling families thousands of dollars a year'. 'Cheaper school runs, cheaper weekends at the footy – and one less thing for families to worry about,' she said. In its 2025/26 budget, which the treasurer, Jaclyn Symes, will hand down on Tuesday, the government has also funded free weekend transport for seniors. Allan said it would save seniors more than $360 every year. Seniors Card holders across the state can currently travel for free in neighbouring zones, but this move will expand to encompass the whole state. The 50% weekday discount will continue. 'We've added hundreds more weekend services and now we're making it free for seniors to travel on the weekend – making public transport an even better option, whether it's for a trip to see family or to explore Victoria,' Williams said. The move will cost $2.2m over four years. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion On Monday, Allan announced the budget would also contain $5bn for a 'public transport blitz'. Most of that money – $4bn – is to start major works turning Sunshine station into a 'superhub' connecting train lines, including a future airport line. $727m is going to 'switch on' the Metro Tunnel and $98.7m to boost service frequency on seven train lines. In a recent report, Infrastructure Victoria said barriers to using public transport included accessibility and frequency. People might not use public transport if they do not feel safe, the independent body said, and established suburbs have better access than newer developments. Its recommendations included faster bus services running more often, a new bus rapid transit network, more bus and coach services in the regions, and the extension and electrification of trains in the west. Ratings agencies including S&P Global Ratings class Victoria's economic outlook as stable. The S&P analyst Rebecca Hrvatin said she expects debt to continue to rise, and forecast the government's 'hefty' infrastructure program would cost $23.5bn a year. 'What we will be looking for in the next budget is the state's commitment to controlling operating costs and stabilising debt levels,' she said. — with AAP
The Guardian
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
What Victoria's $5bn ‘public transport blitz' means for passengers
With just a week to go until the Victorian budget is handed down, there had been no early announcements – until Monday, when the premier unveiled $5bn for a sweeping 'public transport blitz'. Jacinta Allan was joined by her deputy, Ben Carroll, the transport infrastructure minister, Gabrielle Williams, and eight Labor MPs from Melbourne's western and northern suburbs to outline the funding, which is split into three areas: $727m to 'switch on' the Metro Tunnel $98.7m to boost service frequency across seven metropolitan and regional train lines $4bn to begin major works at Sunshine station 'We are focused on what matters most to working people and families, and that includes cutting congestion, helping workers to get to work more quickly and home more quickly as well,' Allan told reporters. Here's what we know so far about the announcement. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The centrepiece of the government's announcement is the $4bn to transform Sunshine station into a 'superhub', which Allan described as the first step towards delivering a long-awaited rail link to Melbourne airport. The 2025-26 budget will allocate $4bn to redevelop the station into a key interchange connecting the metropolitan and regional train lines, as well as the future airport line. The $4bn includes $2bn worth of funding previously set aside for the Melbourne airport rail project, which has had a stop-start history. 'Sunshine station works are such a vital part of the airport rail project,' Allan said on Monday. 'Because it untangles the network, it also paves the way for future works to be able to deliver more services for the western suburbs.' The $727m for Metro Tunnel is new funding in the budget, in addition to the Metro Tunnel's already blown-out $14bn price tag, ahead of its opening later this year. Consisting of two 9km train tunnels under the CBD and five underground stations, the Metro Tunnel will connect the Sunbury line, which runs through Melbourne's western suburbs, with the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in the city's south-east, taking the pressure off the City Loop. Allan said the funding would allow for turn-up-and-go services for the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines. She denied it was a further cost overrun on the project and noted infrastructure funding is separate to service funding. There's also $98.7m to improve train frequency across several other metropolitan and regional lines. This includes increasing peak services on the Werribee line, with two additional trains per hour during the morning and afternoon. On the Sandringham line, services will run every 10 minutes between peak periods, up from four to six trains per hour. The Craigieburn and Upfield lines will get more frequent off-peak services, with trains running at least every 20 minutes, including late at night and on weekends. The Gippsland line will get additional weekday inter-peak services on the Traralgon line, running every 40 minutes following the completion of the line upgrades later this year. Meanwhile, the Bendigo line will see longer trains on more weekend services – to account for the surge in commuters after the government capped the price of V/Line tickets. The Seymour line will also get an additional service during both the morning and afternoon peak periods. Williams said the new services would be added to the network in stages – some before Metro Tunnel opens, some to coincide with the opening and some after. 'We try to sequence changes to our timetables in a sensible way so that we're not compromising the reliability of our network,' she said. Williams said the entire metropolitan network's timetable will need to be adjusted to accommodate the new tunnel, affecting buses, trains and trams. 'It's a very, very complicated endeavour and one that is well under way.'
The Advertiser
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Two-strikes rule to slam brakes on dodgy taxi drivers
Repeatedly refusing short taxi trips or requests to turn on the meter will be enough for cabbies to be kicked to the curb, but more inspectors may be needed to enforce the crackdown. Dodgy taxi and rideshare drivers face losing their licence to operate under Victorian "two strikes and you're out" laws similar to NSW. The proposed legislative shake-up is set to give industry regulator Safe Transport Victoria greater powers to suspend or cancel the accreditation of drivers who have two fare-related convictions. A pattern of complaints could also spell trouble for commercial passenger vehicle drivers, Victorian Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams signalled. "There might be complaints made about an individual driver that are very similar but fall below that conviction threshold, it still allows the regulator to do something about it," she told reporters on Friday. Other changes in the overhaul include compulsory QR codes in taxis and rideshare to link passengers through to a complaints page, harsher penalties for bad behaviour and mandating audio recordings in taxis. The latter measure will make it easier for taxi operators to investigate complaints, the government said. Carers will also be able to access live in-vehicle vision if offered by taxi or rideshare companies after a high-profile case of a cabbie abusing and scamming passengers with disabilities. Ms Williams described the behaviour as "utterly unacceptable and disgusting". The Transport Workers Union said the two-strikes policy unfairly targeted drivers and failed to address poor passenger behaviour. "This is thoughtless demonising of transport workers," its national secretary Michael Kaine said. But Victorian Taxi Association director Peter Valentine hailed the reforms, declaring mandatory audio in cabs would better protect drivers and passengers alike. "Either one can be the offender," he told AAP. Mr Valentine wants the video and audio mandate extended to Uber and DiDi operators despite drivers also using them as private cars. He estimates there are roughly 90,000 commercial passenger vehicle drivers in the state and suggested passengers won't suffer if 10 to 15 per cent are shown the door following the crackdown. But he concedes the regulator will likely face an uphill battle enforcing the incoming rules due to a lack of inspectors. "If you've got 90,000 drivers, do you think three people can control them? There's half your problem," Mr Valentine said. "You stand out there and blow your trumpet but it's no good unless the music comes out." Repeatedly refusing short taxi trips or requests to turn on the meter will be enough for cabbies to be kicked to the curb, but more inspectors may be needed to enforce the crackdown. Dodgy taxi and rideshare drivers face losing their licence to operate under Victorian "two strikes and you're out" laws similar to NSW. The proposed legislative shake-up is set to give industry regulator Safe Transport Victoria greater powers to suspend or cancel the accreditation of drivers who have two fare-related convictions. A pattern of complaints could also spell trouble for commercial passenger vehicle drivers, Victorian Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams signalled. "There might be complaints made about an individual driver that are very similar but fall below that conviction threshold, it still allows the regulator to do something about it," she told reporters on Friday. Other changes in the overhaul include compulsory QR codes in taxis and rideshare to link passengers through to a complaints page, harsher penalties for bad behaviour and mandating audio recordings in taxis. The latter measure will make it easier for taxi operators to investigate complaints, the government said. Carers will also be able to access live in-vehicle vision if offered by taxi or rideshare companies after a high-profile case of a cabbie abusing and scamming passengers with disabilities. Ms Williams described the behaviour as "utterly unacceptable and disgusting". The Transport Workers Union said the two-strikes policy unfairly targeted drivers and failed to address poor passenger behaviour. "This is thoughtless demonising of transport workers," its national secretary Michael Kaine said. But Victorian Taxi Association director Peter Valentine hailed the reforms, declaring mandatory audio in cabs would better protect drivers and passengers alike. "Either one can be the offender," he told AAP. Mr Valentine wants the video and audio mandate extended to Uber and DiDi operators despite drivers also using them as private cars. He estimates there are roughly 90,000 commercial passenger vehicle drivers in the state and suggested passengers won't suffer if 10 to 15 per cent are shown the door following the crackdown. But he concedes the regulator will likely face an uphill battle enforcing the incoming rules due to a lack of inspectors. "If you've got 90,000 drivers, do you think three people can control them? There's half your problem," Mr Valentine said. "You stand out there and blow your trumpet but it's no good unless the music comes out." Repeatedly refusing short taxi trips or requests to turn on the meter will be enough for cabbies to be kicked to the curb, but more inspectors may be needed to enforce the crackdown. Dodgy taxi and rideshare drivers face losing their licence to operate under Victorian "two strikes and you're out" laws similar to NSW. The proposed legislative shake-up is set to give industry regulator Safe Transport Victoria greater powers to suspend or cancel the accreditation of drivers who have two fare-related convictions. A pattern of complaints could also spell trouble for commercial passenger vehicle drivers, Victorian Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams signalled. "There might be complaints made about an individual driver that are very similar but fall below that conviction threshold, it still allows the regulator to do something about it," she told reporters on Friday. Other changes in the overhaul include compulsory QR codes in taxis and rideshare to link passengers through to a complaints page, harsher penalties for bad behaviour and mandating audio recordings in taxis. The latter measure will make it easier for taxi operators to investigate complaints, the government said. Carers will also be able to access live in-vehicle vision if offered by taxi or rideshare companies after a high-profile case of a cabbie abusing and scamming passengers with disabilities. Ms Williams described the behaviour as "utterly unacceptable and disgusting". The Transport Workers Union said the two-strikes policy unfairly targeted drivers and failed to address poor passenger behaviour. "This is thoughtless demonising of transport workers," its national secretary Michael Kaine said. But Victorian Taxi Association director Peter Valentine hailed the reforms, declaring mandatory audio in cabs would better protect drivers and passengers alike. "Either one can be the offender," he told AAP. Mr Valentine wants the video and audio mandate extended to Uber and DiDi operators despite drivers also using them as private cars. He estimates there are roughly 90,000 commercial passenger vehicle drivers in the state and suggested passengers won't suffer if 10 to 15 per cent are shown the door following the crackdown. But he concedes the regulator will likely face an uphill battle enforcing the incoming rules due to a lack of inspectors. "If you've got 90,000 drivers, do you think three people can control them? There's half your problem," Mr Valentine said. "You stand out there and blow your trumpet but it's no good unless the music comes out." Repeatedly refusing short taxi trips or requests to turn on the meter will be enough for cabbies to be kicked to the curb, but more inspectors may be needed to enforce the crackdown. Dodgy taxi and rideshare drivers face losing their licence to operate under Victorian "two strikes and you're out" laws similar to NSW. The proposed legislative shake-up is set to give industry regulator Safe Transport Victoria greater powers to suspend or cancel the accreditation of drivers who have two fare-related convictions. A pattern of complaints could also spell trouble for commercial passenger vehicle drivers, Victorian Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams signalled. "There might be complaints made about an individual driver that are very similar but fall below that conviction threshold, it still allows the regulator to do something about it," she told reporters on Friday. Other changes in the overhaul include compulsory QR codes in taxis and rideshare to link passengers through to a complaints page, harsher penalties for bad behaviour and mandating audio recordings in taxis. The latter measure will make it easier for taxi operators to investigate complaints, the government said. Carers will also be able to access live in-vehicle vision if offered by taxi or rideshare companies after a high-profile case of a cabbie abusing and scamming passengers with disabilities. Ms Williams described the behaviour as "utterly unacceptable and disgusting". The Transport Workers Union said the two-strikes policy unfairly targeted drivers and failed to address poor passenger behaviour. "This is thoughtless demonising of transport workers," its national secretary Michael Kaine said. But Victorian Taxi Association director Peter Valentine hailed the reforms, declaring mandatory audio in cabs would better protect drivers and passengers alike. "Either one can be the offender," he told AAP. Mr Valentine wants the video and audio mandate extended to Uber and DiDi operators despite drivers also using them as private cars. He estimates there are roughly 90,000 commercial passenger vehicle drivers in the state and suggested passengers won't suffer if 10 to 15 per cent are shown the door following the crackdown. But he concedes the regulator will likely face an uphill battle enforcing the incoming rules due to a lack of inspectors. "If you've got 90,000 drivers, do you think three people can control them? There's half your problem," Mr Valentine said. "You stand out there and blow your trumpet but it's no good unless the music comes out."
Perth Now
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Two-strikes rule to slam brakes on dodgy taxi drivers
Repeatedly refusing short taxi trips or requests to turn on the meter will be enough for cabbies to be kicked to the curb, but more inspectors may be needed to enforce the crackdown. Dodgy taxi and rideshare drivers face losing their licence to operate under Victorian "two strikes and you're out" laws similar to NSW. The proposed legislative shake-up is set to give industry regulator Safe Transport Victoria greater powers to suspend or cancel the accreditation of drivers who have two fare-related convictions. A pattern of complaints could also spell trouble for commercial passenger vehicle drivers, Victorian Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams signalled. "There might be complaints made about an individual driver that are very similar but fall below that conviction threshold, it still allows the regulator to do something about it," she told reporters on Friday. Other changes in the overhaul include compulsory QR codes in taxis and rideshare to link passengers through to a complaints page, harsher penalties for bad behaviour and mandating audio recordings in taxis. The latter measure will make it easier for taxi operators to investigate complaints, the government said. Carers will also be able to access live in-vehicle vision if offered by taxi or rideshare companies after a high-profile case of a cabbie abusing and scamming passengers with disabilities. Ms Williams described the behaviour as "utterly unacceptable and disgusting". The Transport Workers Union said the two-strikes policy unfairly targeted drivers and failed to address poor passenger behaviour. "This is thoughtless demonising of transport workers," its national secretary Michael Kaine said. But Victorian Taxi Association director Peter Valentine hailed the reforms, declaring mandatory audio in cabs would better protect drivers and passengers alike. "Either one can be the offender," he told AAP. Mr Valentine wants the video and audio mandate extended to Uber and DiDi operators despite drivers also using them as private cars. He estimates there are roughly 90,000 commercial passenger vehicle drivers in the state and suggested passengers won't suffer if 10 to 15 per cent are shown the door following the crackdown. But he concedes the regulator will likely face an uphill battle enforcing the incoming rules due to a lack of inspectors. "If you've got 90,000 drivers, do you think three people can control them? There's half your problem," Mr Valentine said. "You stand out there and blow your trumpet but it's no good unless the music comes out."
