By Laura Wakely
PUBLIC Transport Minister Terry Mulder once asked why the Brumby Government would not underground the “death-trap” level crossings in St Albans.
Now, after another tragedy at Furlong Rd with the death of 15-year-old Teresa Ho, residents want to know why he won’t answer the same question.
The Hansard records for the Parliament of Victoria reveal Mr Mulder challenged then Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky in June 2008 over her failure to act on level crossing safety in St Albans.
“I refer the minister to the multiple deaths at level crossings in the St Albans area and to a statement by the president of the St Albans Traders Association, Sebastian Agricola, that ‘the St Albans community has been left to rot by the state government’ as well as the further condemnation by the association’s secretary, Asip Demiri, that the government ‘had blood on its hands’,” Mr Mulder is recorded as saying.
“I ask: why will the Minister not commit to undergrounding the death-trap level crossing at St Albans station?”
Mr Demiri said Mr Mulder’s backflip was “ridiculous” and an insult to St Albans residents.
“The story is that neither side of politics wants to spend money in this area of the state,” Mr Demiri said.
“The fact that someone no longer has their daughter come home for dinner, that they had to bury their daughter in a cemetery, it means nothing to politicians.”
Mr Demiri said Federal Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten had also let the community down by referring the issue of level crossing safety to the State.
He cited the Nunawading grade separation, which was funded with $60 million from the State Government and $80 million from the Federal Government.
“What, we’ve got a safe Labor seat so they’re not worried about losing the electorate?” Mr Demiri queried.
“The State and Federal Government have truly faulted the community.
“It could be days, it could be months, it could be years but it’s only a matter of time before more people die.”
Star contacted Mr Mulder, but received no response before going to print.
