Labor’s broken ‘Home Safe’ promises blows Budget, puts public at risk

Shadow Treasurer, Michael O’Brien

Labor’s admission that its 24 hour public transport trial is massively over budget also puts public safety at risk.

Despite Daniel Andrews’ pre-election claim that the $50 million budget Labor allocated was “very, very conservative…we’ve done our homework” and “we think it may come in under that”, the Andrews Government today admitted the cost had blown out to $83.6 million.

This budget blow-out of $33.6 million represents a cost increase of more than 67 per cent.

Worse, Labor has also broken its promise to keep Victoria Police Protective Services Officers (PSOs) in place on all current train stations through the trial.

Daniel Andrews said before the election “…under Home Safe, Labor’s plan to run 24 hour public transport on Friday and Saturday nights, PSOs will be in place just as they are now until the first of the morning services”.

Today, the Andrews Labor Government has said that only premium stations will have PSOs in place during the late night trial. Under Labor, all non-premium stations will be unpatrolled during the late night trial, putting train travellers at risk.

Quotes attributable to Shadow Treasurer Michael O’Brien:

“Daniel Andrews has broken two key promises on his 24 hour public transport trial.

“Mr Andrews has blown the budget by $34 million, showing yet again that Labor simply can’t manage money.

“By cutting PSOs from all but premium stations during the trial, Daniel Andrews is undermining community safety and putting lives at risk.

“These broken promises are confirmation that Daniel Andrews can’t be trusted and can’t be believed.”

Media contact:  Michael Lewis                0433495 454         Michael.lewis@opposition.vic.gov.au