My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Public Transport, Terry Mulder, and it is in regard to public access to amenities at the Diggers Rest railway station on the Sunbury line. As members in the house may be aware, the Labor government spent $270 million on upgrading and electrifying the Sunbury line, which has seen more frequent services and therefore a significant increase in patronage. As the minister would be aware, as part of this upgrade since November 2012 the Diggers Rest station has come under the jurisdiction of Metro Trains Melbourne. Before the changeover to Metro, V/Line was operating at the station and staffed it during the peak morning period. However, since Metro has taken over the state government has determined not to staff that station. As a consequence the public toilets located at Diggers Rest station are now not available, because the policy states that amenities are only available at stations while they are staffed.
I recently received correspondence from the mayor of the City of Melton regarding the unsatisfactory situation that has arisen at the Diggers Rest railway station in respect of access to public amenities by public transport users. A number of constituents have also contacted my office and the offices of other members in relation to this. Labor understands that providing accessible and frequent public transport services is absolutely critical, but providing public amenities goes hand in hand with that, and it is access to those amenities that is the point I am making this evening. The amenities already exist; they do not need to be built. All we are saying is that they need to be unlocked and the station needs to be staffed. I urge the minister to ensure that the necessary arrangements are put in place at the soonest possible opportunity to make those public amenities available to and accessible by all public transport users at that station.