SYKES URGES COUNTRY TRAVELLERS TO USE $10 TICKETS

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, has urged local residents travelling to the Commonwealth Games next year to consider taking advantage of the $10 return ticket offer.

Dr Sykes said The Nationals had forced the government to extend the offer after confusion over the eligibility of people in more remote parts of the state.

“The Nationals have led the way on this issue by forcing the government to offer discounted tickets on V/Line services to all country people,” Dr Sykes said.

“When the Games travel arrangements were first announced, city people were being offered free tickets on the Met while country travellers weren’t getting any deals on V/Line at all.”

“The Nationals have lobbied the government for 12 months and we’ve finally embarrassed the Premier into offering the $10 return tickets on V/Line services.”

“We’ve also managed to get the government to agree to extend the offer beyond the day of the event a person is attending to allow them time to get to and from more distant parts of the state.”

Dr Sykes said he would continue to keep pressure on the government to make sure the Benalla Electorate received its fair share of government funding.

“The Auditor-General released a report this week which indicated that the Bracks Government received more than $30 billion in revenue in the past financial year from sources like land tax, stamp duty, police fines, GST returns and other fees,” Dr Sykes said.

“We’ve got to make sure the Benalla Electorate gets its fair share for important projects like connecting more local communities to Natural Gas.”

“It’s taxpayers’ money and I’m determined to keep the pressure on the government to look beyond Melbourne and invest in the future of the Benalla Electorate.”

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989