MY POLICY INITIATIVE
Feedback received from our community indicates that crime and anti-social behaviour pose significant problems on transport and public transport options within the Latrobe Valley. Passengers, local businesses, drivers and staff on our trains, buses and taxis are concerned about their safety when travelling or waiting at local train stations, taxi ranks or bus terminals. Fare evasion is considerable, as is anti-social behaviour – current behaviour on trains and buses is causing many people to choose alternative travel arrangements. These issues need to be tackled head on, as does unemployment given the lack of innovative job creation strategies within our region.
A way to action this is by recruiting and training eight locally based Protective Services Officers (PSO) and six Public Transport Authorised Officers (AO). The first principle would be endeavouring to recruit the PSO’S and AO’s from within Latrobe City boundaries to help tackle high unemployment in the region.
These PSO’s would be utilised by way of having a presence at the following locations within the Latrobe City area including; Stockland Plaza Traralgon, Mid Valley Morwell and the Moe and Morwell railway stations. PSO’s would be interchangeable across the municipality and be placed at hot spot areas as directed by local police.
AO patrols will occur on trains and buses within the Latrobe City area, to deter anti-social behaviour, to tackle fare evasion, and to assist commuters who require information relevant to their travel.
The recruitment of the PSO’s and AO’s would enhance public safety by ensuring a greater respect for law abiding commuters, provide greater protection for train, taxi and bus employees and personnel, whilst also cracking down on fare evaders.
MY PROPOSAL
- To create a two-year pilot community safety program, designed to increase employment, improve public safety and increase usage of our public transport network
- Recruit eight additional locally based PSO’s to provide additional presence at railway stations, taxi ranks and bus terminals across the Latrobe City to ensure the safety of commuters and staff
- Recruitment of 6 locally based AO’s to “ride” the rail and bus services ensuring public transport laws are being upheld
- Review the success of the pilot and implement improvements, to ensure long-term commitment of resources to continue services within Central Gippsland, and possible roll out to other regional areas
MY COMMITMENT
I am standing with the local community to call for a safe and enjoyable experience on our local public transport network. I will continue to push for any safety improvement and initiative that support people within the Morwell electorate.
