Hansard debates

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (10:16): I too would like to rise to make comment about the inquiry into expanding Melbourne’s free tram zone. I would particularly like to thank the chair, Mr Erdogan, who was really an accommodating and fair chair. He did a great job of weaving his way through the different points of view. He did take concerns on board.

While I did not submit a minority report, I continually pointed out, as did Mr Quilty, that there is nothing in life that is free. There is no such thing as a free lunch; someone always has to pay. We always should bear in mind who is paying and what the cost-benefit analysis is of these things. Of course those that benefit are tourists and particularly CBD workers. We all like using the free tram, but we do have to remember that somebody is paying. I pointed out that there should be a word of caution: how long is a piece of string? It is one stop today, it could be another stop tomorrow and another 10 stops next time. You just do have to be aware that if you are offering something free, somebody is paying, and you will be encouraged to keep expanding the free opportunities.

Congratulations to the chair and all of the staff and my colleagues, who were very generous in listening to our different points of view. It is a good committee to be on.

Motion agreed to.