School Bus seats available for others?

The Victorian Parliament’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee has commenced public hearings as part of its consideration of whether the School Bus program should be widened to make it easier for the general public to access the service in regional Victoria where public transport is less available.

The Committee Chair Enver Erdogan said “We recognise there is significant disadvantage in some communities in regional Victoria. This is particularly the case amongst young people, the elderly and low-income households who may not have access to a private vehicle.”

The inquiry has received about 100 public submissions and is due to table a final report to Parliament by 30 November 2021.

Some submissions have expressed concern about child safety if adults travel at the same time as children on school bus services. However, others have pointed out that far greater numbers of school children safely use shared metropolitan public transport services each day.