Victorian DoT’s Transport Plan is absent

I strongly believe the report recently released by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO), that examines Victoria’s integrated transport planning, shows the Department of Transport (DoT) in a new light.

The audit report found that the documents provided by the DoT that were meant to proffer a view of its transport plan, fail to meet legislative requirements. In fact, it found a transport plan ABSENT.
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This lack of transparency is not good enough. Most of the documents referred to by the DoT are not publicly available nor accessible to other agencies or stakeholders.

With so many projects underway, it is damning that there is such little short or long-term planning to integrate services, engage with the community and achieve integrated decision making.

The report indicates a serious need for more processes that engage in genuine, transparent and constructive community consultation. We cannot continue to be sidelined.

Without stakeholder consultation at the centre of transport planning, these projects will fail to truly meet the needs of the community.

Communities are key stakeholders. They want to be involved in the projects, they do bring skills and they can contribute to better outcomes.

UBER & THE PRIVACY ACT

Uber has tried to argue that it is not subject to Australia’s Privacy Act, as Australians’ personal information is being indirectly transferred to overseas-based companies and their services. How could this be? Uber is attempting to circumvent our laws and regulations that protect the public and their right to privacy. We are letting Uber take our personal information overseas, only to have it stolen, with no breach of personal information publicly declared for over one year. When our personal information is not protected, we are vulnerable to exploitation and at risk of serious harm.
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Earlier this year Uber was approved by Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria to take part in the Multi Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP). This is a government scheme which subsidises commercial passenger vehicle fares for people with accessibility or mobility needs, and as an authorised booking service provider within the MPTP, Uber collects and stores information about MPTP members, the trips they have undertaken and their credit card details.

Given Uber sends and stores its data outside of Victoria and Australia and the fact that it has already stated that they are not subject to Australia’s Privacy Act, I am concerned.

​This is a government program, and it must adhere to the State and Federal laws for data standards.

QUESTION TO THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT
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Will the Minister ensure that the personal details of those vulnerable Multi Purpose Taxi Program users that are collected by Uber are protected in keeping with State and Federal laws for data standards which the government program must adhere to?

More news in our August 2021 Edition here.