Politicians in the election zone

By Paul Dunlop
PAKENHAM commuters are winners no matter who wins the state election after both Liberal and Labor pledged to abolish zone three fares.
The move will save residents travelling into the city on the train up to $14.50 per week.
One of the first official shots fired in what looms as a bitter election contest, the ‘no zone three’ announcement had both parties scrambling to beat the other to the punch.
Liberal leader Ted Baillieu said the abolition of zone three, proposed from 1 July next year, would mean a simpler and cheaper transport system.
Under the election promise, passengers from Pakenham, Berwick and other local stations would pay zone two fares.
“A Liberal government will introduce this simpler two-zone fare system so that public transport is easier to understand and fairer for both regular and occasional users,” Mr Baillieu said.
Premier Steve Bracks countered the promise with a pledge to deliver further reforms on top of previous announcements of a planned upgrade of Pakenham railway station and a new station near Cardinia Road.
Mr Bracks said a re-elected Labor government would abolish zone three and roll out several other initiatives to cut public transport fares from March next year.
ALP candidate for Bass John Anderson welcomed the initiatives which he said also included reducing V/Line train and bus fares by an average of 20 per cent across the board.
“Transport costs make up an increasingly large share of the household budget,” Mr Anderson said.
“Cheaper fares will also encourage more people to think about their travel patterns, and to consider the alternatives to car use.”
Bass MP Ken Smith said the Liberals would also provide free public transport for all children and full-time students in the Pakenham and Berwick areas.
“I have talked to many parents and students who really do need some financial relief,” he said.
Mr Smith took the public transport focus a step further on Monday, announcing that if the Liberals win the election they would pour an extra $500,000 into improving car parking around the Pakenham railway station.