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Myki imports expert help

Victorian Transport Minister Martin Pakula announced yesterday that myki contractor Kamco has "flown in" experts from overseas to troubleshoot Victoria's troubled public transport e-ticketing system.
Written by Colin Ho, Contributor

Victorian Transport Minister Martin Pakula announced yesterday that myki contractor Kamco has "flown in" experts from overseas to troubleshoot Victoria's troubled public transport e-ticketing system.

A myki reader
(Credit: Transport
Ticketing Authority)

"Kamco has flown in experts from overseas to help resolve outstanding issues and get myki working on all modes," said Pakula in a statement yesterday.

Paluka acknowledged some of the difficulties the system had been encountering, and stated that the government would be working directly with the myki contractor.

"The government is obviously frustrated that the contractor has not met its contractual requirements to deliver myki," he said.

The Victorian Government also announced yesterday that it has appointed a new chief executive for the Transport Ticketing Authority (TTA), which is in charge of the myki roll-out.

Gary Thwaites, who has held the position of TTA chief since June 2008, will be replaced by the current head of the public transport marketing body Metlink Bernie Carolan. The change was effective immediately.

Thwaites appointment was not without controversy after it was revealed that he was married to the myki project's former probity auditor Josie Thwaites.

"As the current Metlink chief executive, Mr Carolan has overall responsibility for providing public transport services with coordinated information about ticketing, fares and services," said the Transport minister.

According to Melbourne newspaper The Age, Thwaites will now "take a break for a while" and will likely rejoin the transport department or another government agency later this year. The Age also reported that Thwaites was "sacked".

This has not been the first high level staff change related to the myki program, with the resignation of Transport Minister Lynne Kosky last month.

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