“The previous Labor Government’s Regional Rail Link, Digital Train Radio System, myki, M1 Melbourne freeway upgrade and West Gate Bridge strengthening blew out under Labor by more than $1.3 billion. Labor failed to fund the vast majority of its $38 billion transport plan”, Mr Mulder said.

“The Coalition Government is continuing many of these projects, including Regional Rail Link, new stations at Cardinia Road, Lynbrook and Williams Landing, the purchase of 50 new trams, a modified myki smartcard and the South Morang rail extension.

“On top of that, the Coalition Government is also meeting its numerous transport election commitments, which in public transport include establishing the Public Transport Development Authority, increasing rail maintenance by $100 million over four years, grade separating 12 Melbourne level crossings, improving safety at up to 75 country level crossings, purchasing an initial seven new trains for Metro with more to follow, building new railway stations at Southland and Grovedale and extending V/Line trains to Wendouree, Eaglehawk and Epsom.

Mr Mulder said that while the price of a 2 hour adult Zone 1 Metcard would rise by 20 cents to $4 and the cost of a daily Zone 1 adult Metcard would rise by 60 cents to $7.60, passengers could save by either switching to multi trip Value Metcards or the myki smartcard.

“Using a 10 trip two hour adult Value Metcard or a myki smartcard will cost $3.28 for each two hours, a saving of 52 cents compared with the two hour adult Metcard 2011 fare. Passengers buying a 5 trip daily adult Zone 1 Value Metcard or using myki in Zone 1 will pay a maximum of $6.56 a day, a saving of 44 cents a day compared with the daily Metcard Zone 1 2011 fare..”

Mr Mulder said that the previous Labor Government’s transport plan said that ‘when new trains and additional capacity are delivered to the public transport network in 2011, fares will increase above Consumer Price Index to reflect some of the cost of the investment.’

Mr Mulder said that V/Line and country bus fares would rise by an average 8.6 per cent from 1 January 2012, rounded to the nearest 10 cents.

“V/Line’s fares continue to represent good value, with a 10 week minimum Geelong to Southern Cross date to date ticket to cost under $60 a week, or less than $12 a day for weekday only commuters”, Mr Mulder said.

City.Mobi

Also in Australia today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Brisbane.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

Brisbane.mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.