A METRE MATTERS With little to no income and unable to pay their lenders, many face the possibility of losing their homes or selling their vehicles and machinery. This is their business; it is their job and their livelihood. What then for these people as the restrictions ease and the economy recovers? They are faced with the prospect of starting completely from scratch. It is time that the government revaluated the eligibility criteria to include businesses who are continuing to miss out. In a letter to the Premier, I offered to work with government to address the shortcomings of the existing COVID-19 support programs to focus on expanding the eligibility criteria….to catch those people who, through no fault of their own, are repeatedly falling through the cracks.
Road Toll Inquiry Earlier this month, I took part in the Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Standing Committee’s public hearing on the Inquiry into the Increase in Victoria’s Road Toll. Among the many valuable presenters invited to this hearing, the Committee was joined by Australia’s leading cycling safety charity, the Amy Gillett Foundation (AGF), which presented on its priorities to keep road users safe in Victoria. Notably, the AGF has been campaigning for A Metre Matters legislation changes across Australia for over 10 years. Every other Australian State and Territory has seen changes to this road rule. The discussion with the AGF was a useful reminder that safety for cyclists is really about safety for all road users. Cycling related deaths and injuries are preventable and these crashes don’t just impact
cyclists – they also have a terrible impact on drivers who are involved. Until next month, stay safe and stay well. Rod Barton MP Leader, Transport Matters Party
STOP PRESS... On 8 October 2020 Victoria's new Minister for Road Safety, Hon. Ben Carroll MP announced Victoria’s commitment to A Metre Matters, effective early 2021 AND a $13million investment in temporary bike lanes, joining NSW and QLD to create this vital cyclingsafety infrastructure. This support for cycling will save lives and keep people riding.
DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · October 2020
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