Dear Premier Baillieu,
I believe that you should support the National Disability Insurance Scheme and commit appropriate funds to it.
Thousands of people with disabilities are in urgent need of assistance and protection as a basic human right.
Please don't play politics with this.
I encourage to persuade your colleagues in New South Wales and Queensland to support the NDIS too.
Regards, Peter Campbell
Links
Showing posts with label tedbaillieu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tedbaillieu. Show all posts
Friday, July 27, 2012
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Huge demand for public transport in Melbourne and poor service
I have started work again in Melbourne's CBD. The trains during "peak hours" are much busier than when I previously commuted regularly about 6 months ago. It is great to see so many people using public transport, but the system is performing poorly.
The "stopping all station" trains along the Box Hill line used to go direct to Flinders Street, now all trains on the line go through the loop. There are hundreds of people swapping trains (from Loop train to Flinder St and vice versa) for every train that arrives at Richmond. This delays trains departing and obviously inconveniences many people. There has to be a better way.
The Myki ticketing system is a debacle. After costing around $1.2b (way over budget), and possibly up to $1.5b, it has critical performance issues that are impacting commuters, lots of bugs in the billing, and serious problems with the card readers. The review commissioned by the Baillieu government has not been made public, but they have decided to throw good money after bad and try and make it work.
They are now decommissioning the Metcard readers and many stations and forcing commuters to use Myki, so the real issues and failings are becoming very obvious.
Here is a summary of issues I have encountered:
Many of the problems with Myki were evident over a year ago, as I wrote in this post about Myki in February 2010. I still think that the Myki experiment should be canned. We should start again with a system that is proven and works, or stop issuing tickets or employ conductors again. Governments should not engage in research and development for this type of infrastructure. They should select systems that are proven, and conduct due diligence on companies and consortiums before awarding them contracts.
The "stopping all station" trains along the Box Hill line used to go direct to Flinders Street, now all trains on the line go through the loop. There are hundreds of people swapping trains (from Loop train to Flinder St and vice versa) for every train that arrives at Richmond. This delays trains departing and obviously inconveniences many people. There has to be a better way.
The Myki ticketing system is a debacle. After costing around $1.2b (way over budget), and possibly up to $1.5b, it has critical performance issues that are impacting commuters, lots of bugs in the billing, and serious problems with the card readers. The review commissioned by the Baillieu government has not been made public, but they have decided to throw good money after bad and try and make it work.
They are now decommissioning the Metcard readers and many stations and forcing commuters to use Myki, so the real issues and failings are becoming very obvious.
Here is a summary of issues I have encountered:
- Some card readers don't read my card, but the one next to it does (malfunction, slows passengers)
- I was charged a Zone 1-2 trip even though I only travelled in Zone 1 (I got a refund)
- I was charged a penalty fare for "not touching off" at Surrey Hills, when I carefully did. I contacted the Myki Call Centre - they told me a faulty reader had immediately touched me on (twice!) when I touched off at it (I got a refund).
- The Myki Call Centre cannot see transactions for the current day and they are not visible via the Myki website. You have to wait for an overnight computer batch run to see them!
- The refunds did not appear in my account. The Call Centre informed me that "they send the refund to every card reader in the system (store and forward!?) because they don't know where I will touch on. When I touch on I then get the credit. So it seems the card stores the value, not they central system. If this is true it is a bizarre and very complex IT architecture.
- The card readers are far too slow. Huge queues form at all exits of busy stations such as Flinders Street and Southern Cross while everyone waits around 1 second (or more) for the device to touch off. This should take milliseconds. The sensitivity of the card readers and the response time is woeful.
- The system would not have passed basic performance and load testing (if this was done) and is now failing user acceptance testing.
- The cause of the very slow response of the card readers is not certain. They may be just substandard, or the network latency might be causing it. There is also a "rumour" that the sensitivity of the readers has been "turned down" to get them to work in close proximity with the existing Metcard readers. There may be some validity to this as it has been announced that many of the Metcard/Myki readers and gates are about to be replaced by new gates with Myki readers only. This will be very expensive. If it fixes the poor read response and high bad read problems, this should have been done BEFORE commuters were forced to use the Myki system
- There is still no Myki solution for tourists or country people who visit Melbourne. This is a basic requirement that should have been met BEFORE any roll out.
So how did this disaster happen? It seems that Transport Minister Peter Batchelor in the previous Labor Government decided they would "develop a world class ticketing system that they could sell all around the world" and ignored the option of buying a system that was already available and working well (such as Brisbane's, or London's Oyster Card or Hong Kong's Octupus card).
Then the government awarded the contract to the lowest tender and the Kamco consortium that knew very little about ticketing systems.
Then Kamco bought cheap and inferior "end of life" reading devices and designed a system that has serious architectural points of failure.
Many of the problems with Myki were evident over a year ago, as I wrote in this post about Myki in February 2010. I still think that the Myki experiment should be canned. We should start again with a system that is proven and works, or stop issuing tickets or employ conductors again. Governments should not engage in research and development for this type of infrastructure. They should select systems that are proven, and conduct due diligence on companies and consortiums before awarding them contracts.
There is a whiff about this whole debacle that I just don't like.
Let's have the "open and transparent government" that you promised Premier Baillieu. Please release the Myki review report, and tell me which of the issues I list are fixable.
To top matters off, the Auditor general calls for annual spending of $3 billion to cope with growing demand and fix problems due to chronic under funding. Then Ian Dobbs, the new head of newly formed Public Transport Victoria, rejects the call for $30 billion and states that "The biggest opportunities are in making best use of what we've got at the moment, rather than believing that all the solutions are building, or buying new kit".
He, and members of our government, have obviously not traveled by public transport recently. They probably never do.
I am riding by bike to and from work. It is faster, more reliable and much more pleasant, even taking into account the traffic I have to negotiate.
I am riding by bike to and from work. It is faster, more reliable and much more pleasant, even taking into account the traffic I have to negotiate.
Links
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
The Baillieu government must stop logging Victorian rainforest
Local conservationists have yet again had to take court action and use blockades to stop VicForests, the Victorian Government's logging business, from logging protected rainforest in East Gippsland.
VicForests have form. They were found guilty of breaking the law relating the protection of endangered species in Brown Mountain's forest in the Supreme Court in August 2010. Over a year later, despite a court order, they are yet to pay the court costs awarded against them to Environment East Gippsland.
In July this year, VicForests started logging forest near Sylvia Creek that is home to Leadbeaters Possum. They were stopped by another court order following legal action initiated by local environment group MyEnvironment. This court case, scheduled to be heard early next year, is again about VicForests ignoring the laws concerned with protecting endangered species.
The Baillieu government's response to VicForest's illegal and unethical practices is to reward them with 20 year contracts for logging our remaining native forests, indemnify their contracts, allow them to determine the amount of forest they can log and allow them to log forests in reserves, parks and water catchments.
The Baillieu government has also announced an intention to change the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act to that a bureaucrat can exempt VicForests from complying with it, thereby allowing them to log forests that are and should be protected.
There is a whiff of cronyism and corruption about VicForests too. Graeme Stoney, Premier Ted Baillieu's brother in law, has been recently appointed to the VicForests board by the government. Stoney has also recently been active behind the scenes coordinating the return of cattle to graze in the Alpine National Park under the bogus pretext of "research into the role of cattle in bushfire mitigation".
The native forest logging industry is in terminal decline. Regional Forests Agreements have failed. The global market for woodchips, the major "product" that comes from out native forests, has collapsed. Despite accelerating logging, jobs continue to decline. The industry is largely automated now.
In addition, the wholesale conversion of native forests into plantations by continued logging and burning is simply not sustainable, as scientists such as Professor David Lindenmeyer have stated.
There is enough plantation resource available in Victoria right now to supply our timber and pulp needs. The Victorian government should get out of the logging business, get rid of VicForests, and support our sustainable plantation-based timber and wood products industries.
Our native forests should be protected for the carbon they store, their biodiversity, their function as water catchments and because they are wonderful places to visit.
Links
VicForests have form. They were found guilty of breaking the law relating the protection of endangered species in Brown Mountain's forest in the Supreme Court in August 2010. Over a year later, despite a court order, they are yet to pay the court costs awarded against them to Environment East Gippsland.
In July this year, VicForests started logging forest near Sylvia Creek that is home to Leadbeaters Possum. They were stopped by another court order following legal action initiated by local environment group MyEnvironment. This court case, scheduled to be heard early next year, is again about VicForests ignoring the laws concerned with protecting endangered species.
The Baillieu government's response to VicForest's illegal and unethical practices is to reward them with 20 year contracts for logging our remaining native forests, indemnify their contracts, allow them to determine the amount of forest they can log and allow them to log forests in reserves, parks and water catchments.
The Baillieu government has also announced an intention to change the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act to that a bureaucrat can exempt VicForests from complying with it, thereby allowing them to log forests that are and should be protected.
There is a whiff of cronyism and corruption about VicForests too. Graeme Stoney, Premier Ted Baillieu's brother in law, has been recently appointed to the VicForests board by the government. Stoney has also recently been active behind the scenes coordinating the return of cattle to graze in the Alpine National Park under the bogus pretext of "research into the role of cattle in bushfire mitigation".
The native forest logging industry is in terminal decline. Regional Forests Agreements have failed. The global market for woodchips, the major "product" that comes from out native forests, has collapsed. Despite accelerating logging, jobs continue to decline. The industry is largely automated now.
In addition, the wholesale conversion of native forests into plantations by continued logging and burning is simply not sustainable, as scientists such as Professor David Lindenmeyer have stated.
There is enough plantation resource available in Victoria right now to supply our timber and pulp needs. The Victorian government should get out of the logging business, get rid of VicForests, and support our sustainable plantation-based timber and wood products industries.
Our native forests should be protected for the carbon they store, their biodiversity, their function as water catchments and because they are wonderful places to visit.
Links
- Timber gets long-term commitment, The Age, 14 December 2011
- MEDIA RELEASE: Supreme Court orders stop to logging East Gippsland rainforest, 14 December 2011
- MEDIA RELEASE Legal injunction to stop Victorian rainforest logging, 14 December 2011
- MEDIA RELEASE: Police move in to evict protest at unlawful logging coupe, 12 December 2011
- MEDIA RELEASE: Conservationists Halt Logging Across Victoria, 5 December 2011
- Silvia Creek forest - Greenlivingpedia
- Brown Mountain old growth forest - Greenlivingpedia
Monday, November 28, 2011
Victoria must keep the 20% emissions reduction target
Dear Premier Baillieu and Dr Lynne Williams,
CC: Hon Michael O’Brien, Minister for Energy and Resources
Hon Ryan Smith, Minister for Environment and Climate Change
Hon Peter Ryan, Deputy Premier
Hon Kim Wells, Treasurer
Re: Review of Climate Change Act
I support the Victorian Climate Change Act and would be deeply disappointed if Victoria’s target to reduce greenhouse emissions by 20 percent by 2020 was abandoned.
I note that the Climate Change Act 2010 passed both Parliamentary chambers unopposed. The Coalition participated in the Parliamentary debates at length and stated publicly on numerous occasions that it accepted the 20 percent emissions reduction target.
I understand that the current review is a legislative requirement as outlined in the Climate Change Act due to the introduction of a price on carbon. I’m calling on your government to ensure this review strengthens, rather than weakens our state government action on climate change.
I support the Act, and encourage the Baillieu Government to ensure Victoria takes leading action on climate change in addition to the national price on carbon because:
I am deeply disappointed by the series of actions the Baillieu Government has taken to dismantle Victorian climate policy since being elected. I call on the Government to take this opportunity to change direction on the environment and climate change. I trust that this review is about developing a policy agenda that faces up to the challenge of climate change and this government’s responsibility to act, rather than shirking our responsibilities to current and future generations.
I have previously provided submissions to the Victorian Government about the urgent need for strong emission reduction targets and am very disappointed to see Victoria is now moving backwards on this.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Campbell
CC: Hon Michael O’Brien, Minister for Energy and Resources
Hon Ryan Smith, Minister for Environment and Climate Change
Hon Peter Ryan, Deputy Premier
Hon Kim Wells, Treasurer
Re: Review of Climate Change Act
I support the Victorian Climate Change Act and would be deeply disappointed if Victoria’s target to reduce greenhouse emissions by 20 percent by 2020 was abandoned.
I note that the Climate Change Act 2010 passed both Parliamentary chambers unopposed. The Coalition participated in the Parliamentary debates at length and stated publicly on numerous occasions that it accepted the 20 percent emissions reduction target.
I understand that the current review is a legislative requirement as outlined in the Climate Change Act due to the introduction of a price on carbon. I’m calling on your government to ensure this review strengthens, rather than weakens our state government action on climate change.
I support the Act, and encourage the Baillieu Government to ensure Victoria takes leading action on climate change in addition to the national price on carbon because:
- The 20 percent target will attract investment in clean energy jobs and industries in Victoria;
- There will still be market failures under a price on carbon. We will still need to support energy efficiency measures, remove fossil fuel subsidies, support public good research and development and overcome barriers to clean energy deployment.
- The price on carbon does not cover all sectors of the economy. In particular we need state policies to address emissions from transport and agriculture;
- Victoria’s 20 percent target is stronger than Australia’s national target and therefore represents a bridge between where we are now on emissions nationally and where the science tells us we need to be;
I am deeply disappointed by the series of actions the Baillieu Government has taken to dismantle Victorian climate policy since being elected. I call on the Government to take this opportunity to change direction on the environment and climate change. I trust that this review is about developing a policy agenda that faces up to the challenge of climate change and this government’s responsibility to act, rather than shirking our responsibilities to current and future generations.
I have previously provided submissions to the Victorian Government about the urgent need for strong emission reduction targets and am very disappointed to see Victoria is now moving backwards on this.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Campbell
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Grand Prix support continued by Baillieu Liberal government
Melbourne has hosted the Australian Grand Prix car race since 1996. The race moved to Melbourne from Adelaide under the then Kennett Liberal government. At the time, there was much controversy about the financial benefits of the race at the time, and the environmental and social impacts of holding it on a street circuit around Melbourne's Albert Park lake.
Subsequent Bracks and Brumby Labor governments continued to provide unconditional support for the race. The Victorian government has consistently refused to disclose the amount of public money provided to race organisers and promoters. It is in the range of tens of millions of dollars.
Successive governments have also claimed that the benefits to Melbourne and Victoria outweigh the costs, but have provide no evidence of this.
This is public money, so the public has the right to know how it is spent, and on what basis. Hiding this expenditure is simply not acceptable.
It is therefore very disappointing that the recently elected Baillieu government has chosen to continue funding the Grand Prix, holding it on the Albert Park circuit, and to also withhold the information on public money spent on the race.
This is after Ted Baillieu's claim to provide "transparent and good government".
Successive governments have simply failed to assess public opinion on this issue. Majority community opinion remains untested, and our democratic system has failing to provide and opportunity for anyone to vote on this matter.
We need a plebiscite on this issue now.
Subsequent Bracks and Brumby Labor governments continued to provide unconditional support for the race. The Victorian government has consistently refused to disclose the amount of public money provided to race organisers and promoters. It is in the range of tens of millions of dollars.
Successive governments have also claimed that the benefits to Melbourne and Victoria outweigh the costs, but have provide no evidence of this.
This is public money, so the public has the right to know how it is spent, and on what basis. Hiding this expenditure is simply not acceptable.
It is therefore very disappointing that the recently elected Baillieu government has chosen to continue funding the Grand Prix, holding it on the Albert Park circuit, and to also withhold the information on public money spent on the race.
This is after Ted Baillieu's claim to provide "transparent and good government".
Successive governments have simply failed to assess public opinion on this issue. Majority community opinion remains untested, and our democratic system has failing to provide and opportunity for anyone to vote on this matter.
We need a plebiscite on this issue now.
125 scientists condemn basis for "alpine grazing trial"
A letter to Robert Clark (MP), Ted Baillieu (Premier), Ryan Smith (Minister for Environment and Climate Change), Peter Walsh (Minister for Agriculture and Food Security)
Robert, Ryan, Peter and Ted,
Robert, Ryan, Peter and Ted,
I note that 125 scientists have now stated that your the "trials of alpine grazing to test bushfire mitigation" lack scientific integrity. This includes 11 professors and nine associate professors.
The also state, correctly, that government has potentially broken federal environment (EPBC) law.
As per my previous correspondence, this pre-emptive and ill-considered move is bad for everyone other than a few select families (about 12 I think).
It is also quite obvious to all that cattle don't eat eucalyptus trees or leaf litter, and any "trampling effect" is negligible.
Your government should act for the people, and base decisions on good practice and good process. Re-introducing cattle to National Parks under a sham pretext fails on all these counts.
I urge you to reconsider this action immediately.
Regards, Peter
See also: Cattle grazing in Victoria's alpine areas is not acceptable, previous post
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Cattle grazing in Victoria's alpine areas is not acceptable
A letter to Robert Clark MP, copied to Premier Ted Bailleu.
===========
Dear Robert
Congratulations on winning government.
I am however not pleased to be writing to you as my local member about the Baillieu government's ill-considered actions in allowing cattle to return to graze in Victoria's Alpine National Park.
Cattle have no place in sensitive alpine environments. They cause far too much damage trampling sensitive streams and bogs and their excrement pollutes the environment and water supplies. I have seen this destruction at first hand in the Victorian Alps.
I assisted a PhD student in 1984 whose thesis researched and measured the impacts of alpine grazing. Unsurprisingly, his published results stated that cattle grazing had major impacts on sensitive alpine ecosystems.
This action by the Baillieu government is not supported by a majority of Victorians. It benefits very few people. Our Alpine National Park should be protected from cattle grazing, as the adjacent Kosciusko National Park in NSW has been for decades.
This action will compromise Victoria's alpine environments and jeopardise their World Heritage listing.
I strongly urge you to reverse this decision and provide our Alpine National Park the protection from cattle grazing that science has confirmed in requires. Can you please table my concerns in both your party room and the Victorian parliament about this on my behalf?
Regards, Peter Campbell
============
External links
I am however not pleased to be writing to you as my local member about the Baillieu government's ill-considered actions in allowing cattle to return to graze in Victoria's Alpine National Park.
Cattle have no place in sensitive alpine environments. They cause far too much damage trampling sensitive streams and bogs and their excrement pollutes the environment and water supplies. I have seen this destruction at first hand in the Victorian Alps.
I assisted a PhD student in 1984 whose thesis researched and measured the impacts of alpine grazing. Unsurprisingly, his published results stated that cattle grazing had major impacts on sensitive alpine ecosystems.
This action by the Baillieu government is not supported by a majority of Victorians. It benefits very few people. Our Alpine National Park should be protected from cattle grazing, as the adjacent Kosciusko National Park in NSW has been for decades.
This action will compromise Victoria's alpine environments and jeopardise their World Heritage listing.
I strongly urge you to reverse this decision and provide our Alpine National Park the protection from cattle grazing that science has confirmed in requires. Can you please table my concerns in both your party room and the Victorian parliament about this on my behalf?
Regards, Peter Campbell
============
External links
- Alpine grazing resumes - Weekly Times Now
- Grazing returns to high country - The Age
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)