IT WAS meant to be a chance for the public to question state election candidates about their public transport policies.

But in a tightly-controlled forum held in Footscray last week, many of those questions went unasked.

In a public transport forum organised by the Metropolitan Transport Forum, incumbent Footscray MP Marsha Thomson, Greens MLC Colleen Hartland and Liberal MLC Bernie Finn were each given time to outline their party’s policies before a 30-minute question time was open to the 70-plus residents that attended.

Similar forums are being held in Brunswick, Richmond, St Kilda, Prahan and Caulfield.

Ms Thomson defended the State Government’s backing of the Myki ticketing system and conceded that the planning for the Regional Rail Link “could’ve been implemented much better than it has been to date”.

Ms Thomson said the State Government was trying to update tired infrastructure to unblock public transport gridlocks leading into the City Loop.

Mr Finn promised two officers patrolling each train station after 6 pm if the Liberals are elected, while Ms Hartland emphasised the need to run bus services in sync with train timetables.

When questioned about how the State Government will handle the rest of the Regional Rail Link project, Ms Thomson said community consultation would be extremely important.

Sunshine resident Peter Thomson left unimpressed with the forum.

“Ms Thomson leaves a lot to be desired,” Mr Thomson said.

“I don’t believe that she answered one question that anybody asked, she just beat around the bush with waffle. Bernie Finn answered some, but at times he waffled on with things too, but I thought Colleen answered things very well.

“I think people went there with questions and they certainly didn’t get very many answers.”

Mr Thomson said the forum did not run long enough for everyone to have their chance at asking a question.