Peter Ryan the Minister for Regional Development, lacks any credibility with his response to Jacinta Allan’s criticism of the Napthine Government’s changes to zone 1 and 2 in  Melbourne.

The free tram travel must be seen for what it is, a total capitulation on the part of the Napthine Government to effectively  collect fares on the trams in the CBD. The changes to the Zoning of fares for trains and trams will rip out $100 million of the transport budget to pay for the pork barrelling. The $100 million could have easily been used to open the Castlemaine to Maryborough rail line creating the Bendigo to Geelong Regional Rail Link.

Mr Ryan’s word doesn’t hold any credibility in the regions that include Geelong, Ballarat, Maryborough, Castlemaine and Bendigo after his dismal failure, performance and lack of follow through with his pronouncement in the 2012 election, to establish the Geelong to Bendigo Rail Link. Mr Ryan is a politician who is prepared to distort the truth and attempt to deceive the electorate as a National Party representative purporting to represent the views, opinions and ambitions of country people. Mr Ryan also attempts to lay claim to the successes and achievements of the Regional Rail link in Melbourne, the opening of the Robinvale line and the Velocity trains. We all know which party has brought these beneficial developments into fruition and Mr Ryan’s self aggrandisement can be summed up in the words ‘ It is an impoverished man who lays claim to other people’s achievements and successes’.

 

Mr Ryan even had the rail line in his own electorate pulled up to be converted into a very productive rail trail, consequently his myopic ability has disenfranchised the people in his own electorate of having access to effective and reliable public transport that connects them to the rest of Victoria and Melbourne. Mr Ryan is noted for his mendacity, when he stated at the opening of the new Mildura airport that he endorsed the reintroduction of a passenger rail, service on the Mildura line. It would appear that Mr Ryan Minister for Regional Development has a history that abounds with false and deceptive platitudes.

 

Mr Mulder the Minister for Transport in a recent conversation stated that the Geelong to Bendigo Rail Link will never be built and is a pipe dream. This statement also comes from a politician who represents the ambition and desires of country people. So here we have two Napthine Government Ministers totally ignoring the ambitions and desires of the country electorate, no wonder country people are fed up with politicians like Ryan and Mulder who appear totally untrustworthy, insular and out of touch with country people.

 

The Napthine Government can find $300 million for corporate welfare to keep Lindsay Fox’s Avalon Airport open, but cannot find the finance to fund the Geelong to Bendigo Regional Rail Link.

It certainly appears that the Premier, Dr Napthine, Minister for Regional Development Peter Ryan and Transport Minister Terry Mulder who all have country electorates work against the interests of country people.

 

Scott Ramsay

Public Relations Manager

Rail Revival Alliance