Premier Dan Andrews resignation from the State’s top job and from parliament caught everyone a little surprised. On Monday 2 October 2023 his successor, the new Premier, Jacinta Allan announced the new cabinet and ministry. This includes creation of a first Ministry of Active Transport.

Here are some of the appointments in the ministry reshuffle and allocation important from a climate and environment lens:

Crucially, Lily D’Ambrosio will continue to oversee Victoria’s energy transition as Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources and Minister for the State Electricity Commission.

Steve Dimopoulos will become Minister for the Environment and Minister for Outdoor Recreation.

Gabrielle Williams has been allocated Public and Active Transport. She will become Victoria’s first Active Transport minister!

“we want a focus on those last mile connections that make it easy for kids to get to school, make it easier to get to work – There are many benefits to having a focus on active transport” – Premier Allan said.

Williams will also have a focus on renters’ rights and active transport connections in growth areas under her new portfolios.

Danny Pearson will become Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, delivering the state-shaping transport projects that will connect Victorians for generations to come. 

Sheena Watt is the new Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action

New Ministry for Active Transport a breakthrough for Victoria.

The Victorian State Government in a Climate Transport Pledge (2021) set an active transport 2030 pledge target of 25 per cent share of all trips in Melbourne. But funding for active transport direct projects has been under 0.5 per cent of transport funding in the state budget for many years. The funding has not matched the commitment.

The IPCC 6^th assessment reports highlighted that encouraging shift in transport behaviours with greater adoption of walking and cycling is one of the largest actions to reduce personal carbon footprint that can be achieved.

The Victorian Cycling Strategy 2018-28 (December 2017) says “initiatives that will result in more direct, separated cycle paths to important destinations, like workplaces, schools and public transport stops, and make it easier for cyclists to park their bikes at stations or take them on a train or bus.

A large part of the State government response for active transport has been in developing shared use paths as part of major transport projects, not protected or separated cycling paths as called for by the DoT Victorian Cycling Strategy 2018-28, and these often do not address the specific destination needs of cyclists.

Climate Action Merribek Convenor John Englart said: “We welcome Gabrielle Williams appointment as Minister for Public and Active Transport.

“This is an important portfolio to directly address climate change through encouraging shift in transport behaviours and reducing transport emissions.”

“In the area of Active Transport, Victoria needs to increase funding and look to other global cities in implementing safe infrastructure and programs encouraging greater walking and cycling.”

“The United Nations has recommended that active transport should be about 20 per cent of the transport budget. Clearly Victoria has a long way to go to even approach this goal, but appointing a Minister ecompassing public and active transport is a good start.” said Englart.

State active transport lobby group, Victoria Walks commented on the X platform: “Great that Victoria now has a Minister for Active Transport. (who will also take care of Public Transport). Walking and PT go together like a charm!”

The NSW Liberal government created an Active Transport portfolio under Minister Rob Stokes in December 2021. In a retrograde step, the portfolio was rolled back into the transport Ministry with the election of the Minns Labor Government in March 2023.

Reference

Premier of Victoria media release, 2 October 2023, New Cabinet To Keep Delivering For Victorians https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-cabinet-keep-delivering-victorians

Cutting Victoria’s emissions 2021–2025 Transport sector emissions reduction pledge, May 2021. https://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/victorian-government-action-on-climate-change/Transport-sector-pledge-accessible.pdf

Victorian Cycling Strategy 2018-28 (December 2017) https://dtp.vic.gov.au/-/media/tfv-documents/walking-and-cycling/victorian-cycling-strategy-2018-28.pdf