Community Alliance Party

Canberra ratepayers have forked out a small fortune for yet another piece of glossy Labor election propaganda that promises everything but could well deliver absolutely nothing, according to the Community Alliance Candidate for Ginninderra, Mike Crowther.

"Labor's latest grab-bag – the Integrated Transport Framework – has more 'gunna's' than an artillery school. It includes plenty of guff but nothing to suggest it will achieve any more than the failing Sustainable Transport Plan," Mr Crowther said.

"More words, more promises, but no sign that the government will reverse the policies that are fuelling Canberra's current car dependency. The good news is that voters now have a genuine alternative: the Community Alliance Party. We are working with communities to come up with real solutions to these increasing problems."

"Some of the Community Alliance solutions will include community-friendly transport and parking, an effective bus network, safe and sustainable infrastructure, and low cost options arising from decentralised work, leisure and education options."

Canberra's woeful transport performance was confirmed recently by an AAMI-commissioned survey that showed only 10 per cent of commuters used public transport while 68 per cent of Canberrans rely on private vehicles to drive to work or school.

According to Mr Crowther, Labor's inability to listen to commuters and bus drivers – a mistake already admitted by the Minister for transport – is part of the problem. "To take one point, more than a few bus drivers are very much against the current placing of bike racks, which they consider distracting and a danger in a collision," said Mr Crowther.

"Despite this, the increase of racks on buses was announced with great fanfare. It is clear that this government has learnt absolutely nothing about consulting those people affected by their decisions,” he said.

"How naive does this government think people are? Brochures filled with smiling models and pretty graphs do not change fundamental problems. Labour policy to close local schools and deprive satellite areas of employment opportunities have forced more families into driving two or more cars,” said Mr Crowther.

"If voters don't stop the rot now, Canberrans will continue to sink into a world of fume-choked, gridlocked arterial roads and empty neighbourhoods," Mr Crowther said.

Contact: Mike Crowther 0406 378 902