13th May 2020, 4:21 PM – Senate Motions - Transport Infrastructure - Funding for active transport (cycling, walking etc)

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Victorian Senator Janet Rice (Greens), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) that Australians have resumed or taken up bike riding in large numbers for exercise, leisure, and physically-distanced transport during the COVID-19 related restrictions on broader movement,

(ii) the importance of well-designed and properly funded infrastructure to support walking and cycling as healthy, clean and efficient modes of active transport for Australians of all ages,

(iii) that traffic congestion and pollution can be relieved by providing people with safe cycling routes, and

(iv) that the Federal Government funds a range of transport modes and has historically funded infrastructure for cycling and walking, yet the current government provides very little funding to active transport; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to invest in infrastructure for active transport, both as a stimulus measure in response to the health and economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a measure to improve active transport infrastructure beyond the pandemic.