#springst — Public Fediverse posts

You can almost feel the rage from HWT tower

#SpringSt

Those in the know have said there was only $3.6m allocated to two small Strategic Cycling Corridors projects for the entire of Victoria.

We should expect an announcement about these projects next week.

Bicycle infrastructure is cheap, but it's not that cheap. This is fucked!

In other news, they allocated $5m to inspect and enforce petrol prices at petrol stations.

#SpringSt #Melbourne #bicycles

Today was the Victorian government budget day. I was really hoping there would be something for active transport, but I did assume if there was then it would have been part of an announcement last week.

It looks like there is nothing for active transport at all in this budget.

#SpringSt

What a surprise, you increase taxes on a drug to the point it becomes barely affordable, and suddenly a huge black market forms.

Happened with tobacco, it's now happening with alcohol; bootleggers will always win out.

I wouldn't be surprised if medical cannabis dispensaries are targeted next. Although they're already pretty secure:

La Di Da nightclub targeted by Melbourne arsonists as industry figures fear escalation of booze wars

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-05/ladida-nightclub-fire-alcohol-wars/106641478

#auspol #SpringSt

Suspiciously, there is no actual commitment to electrify out to Melton. Just a commitment to spend money thinking about it.

Election year vibes from a very stale and cynical state government.

#auspol #springst

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/melton-electrification-way

State and Federal governments announce design funding for Melton line electrification.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melton-s-promised-metro-trains-inch-closer-with-design-work-pledge-20260503-p5ztb0.html

No paywall: https://archive.md/6DZEH

#SpringSt #AusPol #GeneralNews

I only recently found out that the 2020 covid pop-up bike lane project was only $13 million for 100km of bicycle infrastructure. Only $130K per km.

For comparison this is about the same cost as 4 train stations car spaces for every km of bike lane (from the $610m Car Parks for Commuters program that delivered 21,000 car parks at train stations again Melbourne).

You could built 2km of bicycle infrastructure to get people to a train station and if 8 people used it then you're already ahead of building car parking.

Even barely used bicycle infrastructure is worth the cost because the alternatives are so expensive.

#bicycles #SpringSt

https://www.weride.org.au/announcement/victorian-government-announces-100km-of-pop-up-bikeways/

Australia (Victoria), Nepean state by-election today:

➤ Eligible voters: ~50,910
➤ Polls open: 8AM-6PM AEDT
➤ Contesting: 8 candidates
➤ Voting system: Compulsory preferential voting
➤ Incumbent: LIB (Centre-right) since 2022 and 2002-2018

➤oceaniaelects.com/Australia
#auspol #springst

Interesting, VIC Greens have Zack Polanski coming over for their convention at the end of next month

#SpringSt

Donald Trump's war improving bus services in Melbourne.

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/bus-bonanza

#SpringSt #AusPol

*sigh* If you're writing policy documents that directly reference unreleased budget papers, maybe don't do it on a tram

#SpringSt

I guess some people's good fortune are others' misfortune...

#vicpol #SpringSt https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/melbourne-s-falling-house-prices-threaten-to-blow-billion-dollar-hole-in-state-budget-20260423-p5zqe0.html

That's appalling. With plenty of sane independents to choose from, they're going to preference the hard-right racists who want to destroy them? Great work, Liberal Party. #vicpol #SpringSt https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victorian-liberals-to-preference-one-nation-at-state-election-20260426-p5zr5l.html

"The car registration rebate is expected to cost the government about $750 million in foregone revenue."

They could build most of the Strategic Cycling Corridors for that.

Or upgrade 70% of the remaining inaccessible tram stops to be accessible tram stops.

There is always enough money when they want to do something.

#Melbourne #SpringSt

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-26/victoria-offers-20pc-car-rego-discount-in-cost-of-living-measure/106606656

"Public transport free for another month, then half-price until 2027"

A better cost-of-living policy would be expanding public transport so more people can use it and more people can make permanent choices that reduce their transport costs over the longer term.

The major cost of a car is in the having of the car; it's insurance, registration, depreciation, maintenance, garage etc.

Enabling a family to go from having two cars to only 1 car is a huge long term difference to their budget.

The $400 million this is costing could be spent on a lot of buses.

#SpringSt

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/public-transport-free-for-another-month-and-half-price-until-2027-20260418-p5zp0e.html

"Free public transport in Victoria appears to have had some effect in shifting demand away from cars, but the difference compared to NSW – where fares remained unchanged – is modest rather than dramatic....the relatively small difference between Victoria, where public transport was free, and NSW – where fares remained unchanged – suggests price is not the main constraint on mode shift. Access, travel time, service reliability and the ability to make specific trips appear to matter more."

#SpringSt #FreePublicTransport

https://theconversation.com/victoria-has-made-public-transport-free-nsw-hasnt-has-there-been-any-difference-in-uptake-280361

UNITED WORKERS UNION ELECTION

https://moraleconomy.au/2026/04/11/united-workers-union-election/

UNITED WORKERS UNION ELECTION

https://moraleconomy.au/2026/04/11/united-workers-union-election/

UNITED WORKERS UNION ELECTION

https://moraleconomy.au/2026/04/11/united-workers-union-election/

UNITED WORKERS UNION ELECTION

https://moraleconomy.au/2026/04/11/united-workers-union-election/

UNITED WORKERS UNION ELECTION

https://moraleconomy.au/2026/04/11/united-workers-union-election/

Deeming fails to redeem herself
#auspol #ausnews #vicnews #coalition #election #deeming #trump #maga #racist #redneck #liberal #nationals #preselection #springst #vicpol

https://www.victoriannews.com.au/politics/state-politics-victoria/deeming-fails-to-redeem-herself/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Deeming fails to redeem herself
#auspol #ausnews #vicnews #coalition #election #deeming #trump #maga #racist #redneck #liberal #nationals #preselection #springst #vicpol

https://www.victoriannews.com.au/politics/state-politics-victoria/deeming-fails-to-redeem-herself/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

🚏 Free public transport has been implemented in a few places around the world, but it is not a common policy.

Luxembourg and Malta have it. They are both very small countries. Hasselt (Belgium) and Tallinn (Estonia) are some other examples.

In Australia, the Northern Territory has it but that is essentially limited to Darwin and Alice Springs. Queensland has a 50 cent fare. Victoria and Tasmania have just announced free public transport in response to potential fuel shortages caused by conflict in the Middle East. In Victoria it's just for one month. In Tasmania it's for three months.

It is a good measure for short term cost of living relief and also for reducing demand for liquid fuel when there are potential supply problems. However, I don't think it is practical in the long term. It is more important to improve public transport services and keep fares at an affordable price.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_public_transport?wprov=sfla1

#auspol #SpringSt #Greens #PublicTransport

RE: https://mastodon.social/@ptua/116308784078975067

Because fuel is one of the smaller costs of driving fuel probably needs to be $4/L before it makes sense for people to switch to PT based on fuel costs alone.

This will be a good test case to see how much of how little free public transport in Melbourne will increase ridership.

PT was already cheaper than driving with fuel at $1.70 if you're traveling more than 14km in a day (based on the ATO's $0.88 estimate of the per km cost of driving)

So I'm sure there will be few people that could take PT, that aren't currently, and would make the switch if it was free.

EDIT: changed the distance from 7km to 14km in a day. Forgot to change it when I changed the sentence from 'commute' to 'in a day'.

#melbourne #SpringSt #PublicTransport

Socialists at the AEU teachers and education support workers strike.

#SpringSt #TeachersStrike
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dwqTelmP3Q

Teacher's strike.

What do we think about putting the premier on a teachers wage?

#AEUStrike #TeachersStrike #SpringSt #JoinYourUnion

I was out door-knocking with the Victorian Socialists in Broadmeadows this afternoon.

Lots of interesting conversations with people in the area. Many people that said "I'm not really in to politics" that were very in to politics when asked what they are concerned about and what is important to them.

#Socialists #SpringSt #Broadmeadows

‘Please, please, PLEASE don’t let your union mates shut down our building projects!” #auspol #springst #PoliticalDonations

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hp3t4k35yyjxczb3vuhoegyy/post/3mgb3tuqv332q

In a statement issued on Tuesday morning, Premier Jacinta Allan said "victims" deserved justice, and that "Victoria demands answers".
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-24/simon-gordon-four-corners-allegations-premier-police-referral/106379430
"Without commenting on the specific case, let me be clear: Performing unnecessary surgery is a crime, removing a woman's organs without a clinical need is a crime, and assisting in that conduct is a crime," she said. #auslaw #auspol #springst #healthlaw

In a statement issued on Tuesday morning, Premier Jacinta Allan said "victims" deserved justice, and that "Victoria demands answers".
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-24/simon-gordon-four-corners-allegations-premier-police-referral/106379430
"Without commenting on the specific case, let me be clear: Performing unnecessary surgery is a crime, removing a woman's organs without a clinical need is a crime, and assisting in that conduct is a crime," she said. #auslaw #auspol #springst #healthlaw

In a statement issued on Tuesday morning, Premier Jacinta Allan said "victims" deserved justice, and that "Victoria demands answers".
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-24/simon-gordon-four-corners-allegations-premier-police-referral/106379430
"Without commenting on the specific case, let me be clear: Performing unnecessary surgery is a crime, removing a woman's organs without a clinical need is a crime, and assisting in that conduct is a crime," she said. #auslaw #auspol #springst #healthlaw

In a statement issued on Tuesday morning, Premier Jacinta Allan said "victims" deserved justice, and that "Victoria demands answers".
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-24/simon-gordon-four-corners-allegations-premier-police-referral/106379430
"Without commenting on the specific case, let me be clear: Performing unnecessary surgery is a crime, removing a woman's organs without a clinical need is a crime, and assisting in that conduct is a crime," she said. #auslaw #auspol #springst #healthlaw

In a statement issued on Tuesday morning, Premier Jacinta Allan said "victims" deserved justice, and that "Victoria demands answers".
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-24/simon-gordon-four-corners-allegations-premier-police-referral/106379430
"Without commenting on the specific case, let me be clear: Performing unnecessary surgery is a crime, removing a woman's organs without a clinical need is a crime, and assisting in that conduct is a crime," she said. #auslaw #auspol #springst #healthlaw

Last week Victoria Police revoked their 'designated area' declaration 4 months early ahead of a Federal Court challenge.

It's generally expected that the Police will reinstate the declaration after the challenge concludes.

The Federal Court challenge is in the middle of day 2 and is being live streamed (it's not recorded so you can't catch up) if you're interested in super boring lawyer speak.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDnu4hsQQa8

#VicPolice #SpringSt

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/09/victoria-police-revokes-powers-to-allow-warrantless-pat-downs-across-inner-melbourne

While updating Wikipedia about tomorrow's new motorway — Victoria's getting an "M4" — noticed some unhealthy obsessions about a long-gone politician

(all fixed now)
(official lies)

#shitpost #m4 #motorway #tollway #tunnel #westgatetunnel #victoria #dictatordan #danandrews #danielandrews #alp #springst

While updating Wikipedia about tomorrow's new motorway — Victoria's getting an "M4" — noticed some unhealthy obsessions about a long-gone politician

(all fixed now)
(official lies)

#shitpost #m4 #motorway #tollway #tunnel #westgatetunnel #victoria #dictatordan #danandrews #danielandrews #alp #springst

While updating Wikipedia about tomorrow's new motorway — Victoria's getting an "M4" — noticed some unhealthy obsessions about a long-gone politician

(all fixed now)
(official lies)

#shitpost #m4 #motorway #tollway #tunnel #westgatetunnel #victoria #dictatordan #danandrews #danielandrews #alp #springst

While updating Wikipedia about tomorrow's new motorway — Victoria's getting an "M4" — noticed some unhealthy obsessions about a long-gone politician

(all fixed now)
(official lies)

#shitpost #m4 #motorway #tollway #tunnel #westgatetunnel #victoria #dictatordan #danandrews #danielandrews #alp #springst

"The project was initially costed at $5.5 billion with just $400 million of taxpayer investment, but that has since blown out to $10.2 billion with the state chipping in $4.2 billion."

Transurban has brought itself $40 billion in extra tolls on CityLink for only $6 billion and pushed the cost overrun almost entirely on to the tax payer.

The state government got completely screwed.

#SpringSt #WestgateTunnel #Melbourne

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-12/vic-west-gate-tunnel-ready-to-open/106134682

"The project was initially costed at $5.5 billion with just $400 million of taxpayer investment, but that has since blown out to $10.2 billion with the state chipping in $4.2 billion."

Transurban has brought itself $40 billion in extra tolls on CityLink for only $6 billion and pushed the cost overrun almost entirely on to the tax payer.

The state government got completely screwed.

#SpringSt #WestgateTunnel #Melbourne

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-12/vic-west-gate-tunnel-ready-to-open/106134682

"The project was initially costed at $5.5 billion with just $400 million of taxpayer investment, but that has since blown out to $10.2 billion with the state chipping in $4.2 billion."

Transurban has brought itself $40 billion in extra tolls on CityLink for only $6 billion and pushed the cost overrun almost entirely on to the tax payer.

The state government got completely screwed.

#SpringSt #WestgateTunnel #Melbourne

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-12/vic-west-gate-tunnel-ready-to-open/106134682

"The project was initially costed at $5.5 billion with just $400 million of taxpayer investment, but that has since blown out to $10.2 billion with the state chipping in $4.2 billion."

Transurban has brought itself $40 billion in extra tolls on CityLink for only $6 billion and pushed the cost overrun almost entirely on to the tax payer.

The state government got completely screwed.

#SpringSt #WestgateTunnel #Melbourne

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-12/vic-west-gate-tunnel-ready-to-open/106134682

"The project was initially costed at $5.5 billion with just $400 million of taxpayer investment, but that has since blown out to $10.2 billion with the state chipping in $4.2 billion."

Transurban has brought itself $40 billion in extra tolls on CityLink for only $6 billion and pushed the cost overrun almost entirely on to the tax payer.

The state government got completely screwed.

#SpringSt #WestgateTunnel #Melbourne

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-12/vic-west-gate-tunnel-ready-to-open/106134682

Transport Victoria are expanding tram stops on the 57 tram line along Victoria St, Errol St and Queensberry St in North Melbourne and as a big fuck you to the disability community they're not making them accessible.

They're making the tram stops wider and adding zebra crossings but for some reason they can't be fucked rising the stop to the level of the tram to provide level boarding.

This is fucking outrageous.

Transport Victoria needed to make all tram stops accessible by 2022 and they failed to do that. The next deadline is only a few years away and they're planning to rebuild trams stops without making them accessible.

If you're in Melbourne please submit feedback on this consultation and tell them you support accessible tram stops.

https://engage.vic.gov.au/route-57-north-melbourne-tram-corridor

You can also email Sonya Kilkenny the Minister for Planning and tell them you support accessible tram stops.

[email protected]

They are also doing in person consultations on Saturday and Tuesday if you want to yell at them in person.

https://engage.vic.gov.au/project/route-57-north-melbourne-tram-corridor/meetings

#Melbourne #PublicTransport #SpringSt #Accessibility #AccesibleTramStops