By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
IN a bid to get their message out about traffic congestion, the Fund our Future campaign is urging fed-up drivers from outer suburbia to take a selfie.
The selfies from across the nation will be used to document people’s trip to work.
Fund our Future is hoping the images of frustration, congested traffic and time wasted will speak volumes to politicians.
Annoyed drivers are encouraged to take a selfie at the beginning, middle and end of their morning commutes – detailing how long the journey takes – and to share it on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #FundOurFutureAU.
The selfie social media campaign will be used as part of Fund our Future’s inaugural national Nightmare Commute Day on Tuesday 7 June.
A spokesperson from Fund our Future said participating drivers must put safety and the law first.
“We want people to take a safe selfie before they start their commute and at end of their commute, if it is safe to do so. If they are on public transport, they can take one in the middle of their commute as well,” she said.
“Fund our Future created ‘National Nightmare Commute Day’ because we realise that there are particular issues around commuting in the outer suburbs, and we know that the politicians need to hear the voices of the five million people who live nationally in the outer suburbs.
“We urge people to document their trip to show politicians just how severe the commuting problems are in outer growth areas and that something really needs to be done.”
City of Casey Mayor Sam Aziz, who is the Victorian spokesperson of the National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA), encouraged Casey-Cardinia residents to take part.
“The stories about stress, congestion and frustration with our roads and public transport are the same in outer suburbs around the country,” Mr Aziz said.
“People are sick of spending countless hours in the car or waiting for trains.
“Unfortunately, it is our residents who are paying the price of poor leadership and foresight. Successive federal governments have failed to fund and build the infrastructure that fast-growing areas like ours, on the outskirts of our cities, need and deserve.”
Drivers caught using a handheld mobile phone while driving for any reason including talking, texting, playing games or taking photos/video face a $443 fine and four demerit points.
To sign the Fund our Future campaign petition, which calls for a national fund to address infrastructure problems in outer suburban rapid growth areas, visit: www.fundourfuture.info/act-now.
