Jo Haylen, the Member for Summer Hill, is calling on the Government to extend free student travel to Light Rail following yesterday’s announcement that students will switch to a new school OPAL card from the start of the 2016 school year.

Jo Haylen, the Member for Summer Hill, is calling on the Government to extend free student travel to Light Rail following yesterday’s announcement that students will switch to a new school OPAL card from the start of the 2016 school year.

“The Government is spending over $2 billion on new Light Rail infrastructure but won’t allow students to use it,” said Ms Haylen.

“Students and parents along the existing light rail line through the Inner West have been calling for free student travel to be extended to the Light Rail for years.”

Ms Haylen moved a motion in Parliament earlier this year and will shortly table a petition from concerned locals calling for free student travel on Light Rail.

“It doesn’t make sense. If students can use buses, ferries and trains to get to school, they should be able to use all of our transport network,” said Ms Haylen.

“The Inner West Light Rail extension is the safest, most direct way for many students to get to and from school.”

“The Government is refusing to see sense on this.

“The new student OPAL card roll-out is the perfect opportunity to do the right thing by Inner West students and allow them to travel on light rail.”