ALP National Conference

By Owen Doogan, Queensland Branch Secretary

The RTBU has worked hard to ensure that the Platform has policies relevant to our members. I was fortunate to be a member of the National Policy Committee. RTBU National Officials and rank-and-file Delegates working in Policy Committees in various States have done a lot of the hard work.

The Urban Transport Resolution essentially dealt with the fact that Australia's urban transport systems are under increasing demand pressures relative to their capacity. The cost of traffic congestion and road accidents is increasing, with important impacts on Australia's well being, the environment, Australia's efficiency and workers' standard of living. The effects cover the efficiency of both public and private transport, the impact on economic growth, and social rights, as well as the Greenhouse and other pollution issues.

The current Howard government policy ignores the needs of urban transport. The Conference resolved that the next Federal Labor Government will provide appropriate financial assistance to State Governments to improve and extend public transport systems into urban and regional Australia. The "Modern, Efficient and Safe Land and Transport Network" resolution condemned the Howard Government for its seven years of neglect of Australia's transport infrastructure, particularly railways. The resolution called on the next Federal Labor Government to lead Australian Governments in the joint development of a national, modern efficient transport network to meet the burgeoning freight and passenger transport task.

The RTBU has long campaigned for comprehensive investment in public transport and other rail infrastructure across Australia. The need is well known but, unfortunately, also well overdue.

It is disappointing that the Federal Government's transport investment is aimed overwhelmingly at roads, often neglecting the environmentally sustainable transport solutions such as greater public transport, including rail, bus and trams.

The RTBU was successful in inserting into the Platform that a Federal Labor government would examine the use of Government Bonds to fund investment in much needed public infrastructure, including transport.

Now the RTBU has to work to ensure that these commitments are turned into funded election policies, and implemented.

Other information on the ALP Conference and the ALP Platform are available on the following website: http://www.alp.org.au