CTU Submission on the Public Transport Managment Act 2007

Submission to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee, December 2007 

Click here to download a printable verision of the submission (PDF 202k)

Summary

The CTU supports the Public Transport Management Bill and believes it will help to achieve an integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable land transport system – as stated in the purpose of the Bill.

 In particular the CTU welcomes the proposals to allow regional councils to coordinate commercial and subsidised public transport services, advance the adoption of integrated ticketing and require greater investment in vehicles that meet emissions standards. The CTU also welcomes the greater statutory role for regional public transport plans and the opportunity that they present for greater input from the public on public transport policy.

However, the CTU is concerned that the matters that must be taken into account, and the consultation that must be done, before a regional council can adopt a regional public transport plan under this Bill, are deficient.

In particular, the requirements and processes do not recognise the interests of public transport workers and the employment conditions and workplace practices they experience.

Thus, the CTU proposes that there should be explicit requirements for good employer provisions and consultation with workers and their representatives in the Bill.

The CTU also believes there is still a need to define the term “transport disadvantaged” in order to be clear about the particular needs that regional public transport plans must address.