The ACT Labor-Greens government appears to be ignoring the new National Disability Standards by continuing to use the now non-compliant Renault diesel buses as part of the Transport Canberra Network.

Shadow Minister for Transport Mark Parton said despite national law stating these particular buses be retired on the final day of 2022 they have still been in operation during the early stages of 2023.

“The Transport Minister announced in March last year that all 34 of the non-compliant Renault diesel buses would be removed from service at the end of last year and that promise appears to have been broken,” Mr Parton said.

“This is also a breach of the National Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport and is yet another example of the Minister saying one thing and then doing the complete opposite.

“Electric buses were supposed to fully replace the old Renault’s and despite the Labor-Greens government making a song and dance about the arrival of the first of those buses, the remaining 11 are yet to materialise or appear on our roads.”

Mr Parton also pointed to the massive cutbacks in the 2023 term one timetable which the Canberra Liberals believe is due to the Labor-Greens government not having enough buses to fulfill the old table.

“That theory is supported by the fact that the government appears to be recklessly breaching the national disability code even during the quiet holiday period to keep the timetable intact,” Mr Parton concluded.