Rod Barton is a former Victorian Member of Parliament for the Eastern Metropolitan Region, known for his straight-talking style, community focus and unwavering sense of fairness. Before politics, Rod spent decades on the front line of the transport industry, building a business from the ground up and learning firsthand how policy decisions affect real people.

That lived experience shaped his time in Parliament, where he led the fight for long-overdue transport reform and stood up for workers, families and small operators who had been ignored for too long. Rod also played a central role in the successful class action against Uber, helping secure justice for thousands of drivers and small businesses whose livelihoods were undermined.

Rod founded the Transport Matters Party to give those communities a voice — and he brought their stories, their struggles and their aspirations directly into the halls of power. Today, he works with government, industry and training organisations to cut through complexity, strengthen workforce capability and deliver practical reforms that actually make a difference. Rod remains driven by the same principles that guided him from day one: fairness, accountability and making sure everyday Victorians are genuinely heard.