Longer wait for regional Myki system By STEFAN BRADLEY   GIPPSLAND train travellers living or visiting east of Traralgon are once again facing a lengthy delay to be placed on the Myki network, with Rosedale, Sale, Stratford and Bairnsdale stations to stick with paper tickets for a while longer and be unable to access the forthcoming credit card ‘tap and go’ feature. The eventual move to the improved Myki network will reportedly occur after all current Myki readers across Victoria are upgraded with technology enabling credit card and smartphone ‘touch ons’. Once the roll-out is complete, passengers can travel simply by touching on with a credit card as an option instead of topping up a Myki card or purchasing a Myki Pass. Currently, Myki can be used by Android smartphone users to touch on. More than two years ago, the Express received confirmation from the state government that under the new contract for myki with the American ticketing supplier Conduent Business Services, the smart ticketing system will be expanded to regional Victoria in areas it currently does not serve, finally replacing the paper ticket system. At the time, the government didn’t specify whether the entire V/Line system would be moved onto Myki, or which regional stations that Myki would be expanded to. The government also indicated it wouldn’t rush to switch on the new system until it was tested and read to go. The Herald Sun recently reported that Rosedale, Sale, Stratford and Bairnsdale stations would be among the 37 regional stations to not be part of the first roll-out of the new upgraded myki readers, which also includes Warrnambool, Swan Hill, Ararat, Shepparton and Albury. But Paul Westcott, regional spokesperson for the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), a non-profit group that advocates for public transport users in Victoria, told the Express that passengers “almost never complain about the unavailability of Myki in most regional and rural areas”. “Given the problems Myki had, particularly in its early days, passengers often expressed relief that they weren’t required to use Myki. It seems that sentiment might persist,” Mr Westcott said. “Of course, Myki was supposed to be a state-wide system when it was being planned and introduced, but the Baillieu government confined it to Melbourne and the major regional centres to cut costs. While a lot of Myki hardware was installed at V/Line stations during the aborted initial roll out, we are unsure how much of it has been rendered unusable by time or later technological developments.” Mr Westcott said there hadn’t been any real pressure from the non-Myki areas to have the system introduced. “However, at the same time as the massive V/Line fare cut was announced, the then public transport minister, Ben Carroll, did undertake to have the system introduced state-wide. That part of the announcement was forgotten in the wake of the excitement about the fare cut, and the government seems to have forgotten about it as well, and/or maybe hopes people have forgotten,” he said. Nationals state MP Kim O’Keeffe, said regional Victorians were continuing to be disadvantaged by the “bungled Myki upgrade”, saying it was “embarrassing” that paper tickets were still being used in Victoria’s regional lines in 2025. Twenty thousand new Myki readers are being installed as part of a $1.7 billion project that are expected to be switched on credit card payments by early 2026. A spokesperson from the Department of Transport told the Herald Sun it would eventually install new readers at V/Line stations which were currently serviced by paper tickets and eTickets. Mr Westcott said it would still be preferable for the Myki system to be introduced state-wide as a unified ticketing system. An electronic ticketing system was introduced last year, allowing V/Line passengers to pay for an ‘eTicket’, allowing them to print the ticket or display it on their smartphone instead of picking up a physical paper ticket from the train station or having it mailed to their home. The paper ticketing system remains unchanged for those who prefer it. The eTicketing system is currently not available for the Gippsland Line, presumably because of the current works on a new signalling system for the trains that require coach replacements until Wednesday, August 13. Arguably the most pressing issue facing Gippsland public transport users is frequency of reliable services. The end of the works on August 13 will complete the Gippsland Line, allowing weekday services on the Traralgon Line every 40 minutes, up from once an hour.

LV Express: Longer wait for regional Myki system #News #Bairnsdale #BenCarroll

🙏⏳
#springst

#BenCarroll 👇
#NatalieHutchins 👇

Restoring confidence in VCAA STAFF WRITERS   THE state government is overhauling the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority to provide full confidence to Victorian students, families and schools. Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll has announced the government will accept all the recommendations of the first stage of the root-and-branch review into the VCAA conducted by Dr Yehudi Blacher, and will appoint a new chief executive and interim board to lead the VCAA. Andrew Smith will commence as VCAA chief executive from June 1,2025. Mr Smith is the current chief executive of Education Services Australia, and has a wealth of knowledge of the education sector, starting his career as a teacher and school leader in the Victorian government school system. Stage 1 of Dr Yehudi Blacher’s report into the 2024 VCE exam errors determined the root causes of the unintentional disclosure of examination content. The government has accepted all recommendations and is acting swiftly to deliver them. In line with those recommendations, the government has reconstituted the VCAA board and instated an interim board that will oversee the VCAA for the rest of 2025. The interim board includes Tony Bates, Acting Secretary of the Department of Education, Professor Elizabeth Labone, chief executive of the Victorian Catholic Education Authority, Rachel Holthouse, chief executive of Independent Schools Victoria and Jane Brockington, an independent member who is a risk and audit specialist. Mr Smith and the interim board will oversee the implementation of the Blacher Review’s other recommendations, including increasing accountability and risk management for the exam development and publication process end-to-end, and stopping the publication of cover pages. This work will be supported by the Independent Monitor Margaret Crawford, who was appointed late last year to oversee all aspects of the preparation of the 2025 exams. The government is already taking steps to make the necessary changes at the VCAA to implement seven of the recommendations for this year’s exam period. The government will also work towards piloting the development of an examination repository for select subjects. The second stage of Dr Blacher’s review is a comprehensive review of the VCAA’s structure, operations, culture and capability. Stage 1 of the Blacher Review is available at: vic.gov.au/blacher-review-vcaa

LV Express: Restoring confidence in VCAA #News #AndrewSmith #BenCarroll

Pesutto potentially out of pocket By LIAM DURKIN   TRARALGON-born former state Liberal leader, John Pesutto may be forced out of politics, if the collateral damage from his case against Liberal colleague, Moira Deeming plunges him into bankruptcy. By law, anyone declared bankrupt cannot sit in parliament. Mr Pesutto was last year found guilty of defaming Ms Deeming, after she attended a women’s rights rally, and ordered to pay $300,000 in damages by the federal court. The fallout saw Mr Pesutto lose the Liberal party leadership, and be relegated to the crossbench under current leader Brad Battin. Things might yet go from bad to worse for the Traralgon local, as there are fears a cost ruling could bankrupt him. If Mr Pesutto (the Member for Hawthorn), is declared insolvent, it will trigger a by-election. Deputy Premier, Ben Carroll last week told the Herald Sun Labor would entertain the prospect of contesting Hawthorn. “If there is a by-election in Hawthorn, we’d welcome it,” he said. “We’ve held that seat before. I’ve been in Hawthorn regularly. We’ve got a good story to tell. “It’s a very marginal seat and I know we’ve put a lot of investment in there but it’s a matter for John Pesutto and the Liberal Party as to whether there’s changes in that district.” Mr Pesutto however said he was up for what is looming as the fight of his political career. “Serving as the Member for Hawthorn has been the privilege and honour of my professional career. I have continued to receive very strong support from my constituents to represent them and I remain fully committed to doing so for as long as they will have me,” he said. “I will continue to be a constructive and devoted member of the Liberal team in order to win the 2026 election and be the positive and reforming government Victorians desperately need.” Mr Pesutto appears to have people in his corner, as it is understood some within the Liberal party room are plotting to end Ms Deeming’s own political career. His demise however could only solidify Labor’s chances of seeking an historic fourth term next year. “I’ve always said I thought there was a place for John Pesutto. I thought he was their best and was their strongest leader (but) they decided to neck him,” Mr Carroll said. The Herald Sun also reported former premiers Jeff Kennett, Ted Baillieu and Denis Napthine had chipped in their own money to help the embattled MP. The sorry saga has been a swift turn of events for Mr Pesutto, who only five months ago was leading a Resolve poll as preferred Premier. Seven weeks later, he wasn’t even party leader. Mr Pesutto grew up and went to school in Traralgon, and played soccer for Olympians and Traralgon City. He is not the first Traralgon MP to come out of court crestfallen. Former Member for Morwell, Russell Northe was sentenced to 21 months jail in 2023 for using public money to fuel his gambling addiction. The Liberals will be hoping to win something bigger than a state election next week, with the federal election laid down for Saturday, May 3. Early voting began Tuesday (April 22). Latrobe Valley locals can attend either 40-50 Queens Parade, Traralgon, 34 Princes Drive, Morwell, or 34 Fowler Street, Moe to avoid the queue on election day. Candidates for Gippsland and Monash have also begun revealing their preferences. Labor is expected to hold government, with the most recent Resolve poll showing 46 per cent have Anthony Albanese as preferred Prime Minister. Not encouraging gambling, but giving betting agencies are generally the most accurate political measure, Sportsbet had Labor as short as $1.22 odds on Monday.

LV Express: Pesutto potentially out of pocket #News #BenCarroll #BradBattin

Uniform changes for government schools STAFF WRITERS   FROM next year, school logos will no longer be required on shorts, pants, skirts and socks in Victorian government schools. Premier Jacinta Allan and Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Ben Carroll made the announcement last week, in a move they say will make school uniforms cheaper and help families during the cost-of-living crisis. Coming into effect from 2026, the major change to the student dress code policy follows consultation with families, schools and suppliers which found that branded, customised items (e.g. items with logos, stripes or other markings) are the biggest contributor to uniform costs. These branded items are more expensive and can usually only be purchased from one provider. Compared to ‘generic’ store alternatives, some individual branded items were found to be up to $56 more. Not all government schools require branded shorts, pants, skirts and socks, but many do. Parents must either pay up or risk their child getting in trouble. Under these changes, standard and unbranded becomes the rule. Schools can continue to have branding on hats, tops, shirts, dresses and jackets – everything from the waist up – because it’s important for school pride, making sure all kids walk into schools as equals, and recognising students in a crowd. In addition to the directive to transition away from branded pants, shorts, skirts, and socks, the updated statewide student dress code policy will require schools to ensure that their student uniform is affordable. The Department of Education will be assisting them to review and update student dress codes and consult their school communities as part of their review process. Schools that need to make changes to uniform items as part of their dress code policy update will implement them from the start of the 2026 school year. There will be transitional arrangements to ensure that uniforms already purchased can continue to be worn.

LV Express: Uniform changes for government schools #News #BenCarroll #DepartmentofEducation

This is an abbreviation of the message I sent to my daughter’s new teacher

#Advocacy is exhausting

I hoped Vic #publiceducation system would be better attuned to #ND kids by now

Alas it’s underfunded 😔

Kids fall thru cracks

Please 🙏🏽 Do better for our kids

#BenCarroll

#vicgov

Eager VCE students receive their results By KATRINA BRANDON   THE results are in. High school students have been waiting as long as three weeks to see results for their VCE exams. With the countdown rolling in early last Thursday (December 12), the question for students beckoned for what…

LV Express: Eager VCE students receive their results: By KATRINA BRANDON


 


THE results are in.


High school students have been waiting as long as three weeks to see results for their VCE exams.


With the countdown rolling in early last Thursday… #Community #BenCarroll #gippslandgrammar

‘Data comes as education minister remains stalled in negotiations with states and territories over contributions to Schooling Resource Standard’ The fact the ‘negotiations have stalled’ for so long should be ringing bells for you #JasonClare.
I hope #BenCarroll hangs out for #Victoria’s fair share.