David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move a motion relating to public transport and active travel, as circulated.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to contingent notice of motion standing in my name, I move:

That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion relating to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to give precedence to a motion relating to public transport and active travel.

This motion is urgent because millions of Australians across the country are suffering the effects of fuel prices going through the roof as a result of the crisis in the Middle East. It is urgent because for many it's a grinding calculation of whether they can actually afford to fill the tank this week. It is urgent because we are facing fuel shortages in the regions and we are seeing farmers worrying that they are not going to get their winter crops in.

We have to do more as a country, and as communities across this country, to ensure that we provide public transport and better active travel infrastructure so that people who are able can leave their cars at home, can get public transport, can jump on their bike, can cycle off the road and arrive safely at work. It's obviously not for everyone, but there is a big chunk of the population in metropolitan areas who can and will use public transport if it is cheaper. And so there is an opportunity here for us to actually act, to do something that will make a difference. It will make a difference to the lives of people if they can have a 50c, or potentially free, fare to travel to work. And it will make a difference to the farmers that this frees up fuel for, farmers who need the diesel right now and into the future.

We have heard a lot from the government that the challenges that we're seeing across the country are a demand-side issue because Australians are buying more fuel than they need, are filling up jerry cans, and farmers, really concerned about what the next few months may hold, ordering more diesel than they usually do. If that is the case then we need demand-side solutions, and this is clearly one of them. It is one that is incredibly popular. So many Australians would like to catch public transport if it were cheaper. So many Australians would like to actually ride to work. Here in Canberra we have far too much cycling infrastructure that simply just ends suddenly. You're cycling along, feeling great, and then you're spat onto a road where people in cars are doing 60 kilometres or 80 kilometres an hour, and that is not conducive to people cycling to work. People want this. We have an opportunity; we have a time that actually calls for this kind of leadership, and I urge the federal government to step up here.

Earlier today I stood with Senator Waters and with colleagues from the legislative assembly here in the ACT—former Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury, Thomas Emerson MLA and Independent for Kurrajong, Fiona Carrick MLA—representing their communities and urging the Territory and federal government to work together. This is a practical, meaningful thing that we could be doing. We could be doing it now, working together, both levels of government, to fund or subsidise cheaper public transport and to see the kind of emergency actions that we've seen in other times of crisis. We could see pop-up bike lanes or pop-up bus lanes to ensure that people aren't sitting in traffic when instead they could be getting from Woden to Civic.

I thank Senate colleagues Senator McKenzie and Senator Waters for their assistance with this, and I urge the government that this is an opportunity for all. We're here, wanting to work with you and really push you on this to deliver for Australians in cities and to deliver for Australians in the regions. We have to look after farmers in this country.