Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam has called on the Barnett Government to release its long over-due public transport plan, while welcoming the State Opposition's support for light rail in Perth.

"Light rail should be a component of the State Government's 20-year public transport plan - but where is it?" said Senator Ludlam. "The 20-year plan is six months overdue, and apparently went to State Cabinet over a month ago."

The Western Australian Government must take decisive action on introducing a light rail system in Perth before the public transport crisis worsens, WA Senator Scott Ludlam said today.

Senator Ludlam, the Australian Greens spokesperson for transport, said dramatic overcrowding on bus routes in the northern and eastern suburbs of Perth could be alleviated by a new tram system.

Western Australian Senator Scott Ludlam has urged the State Government to make a Perth light rail network a budget priority, with reports that a public transport strategy will go to cabinet on Monday.

"Up until now this has been a campaign of lines on maps. It is time for line items in the budget," he said. "We need a funding commitment from the State Government and an application to Infrastructure Australia to secure Federal funding for light rail."

The Australian Greens have welcomed the call to action from a leading sustainable urban development group.

Australian Greens sustainable cities spokesperson, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, said the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council's (ASBEC) call for a national policy on sustainable urban development was timely.

The Greens have urged the State Government to prioritise rail and light rail development in Western Australia.

The Greens' federal spokesperson for transport, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, said the Barnett government needed to take a comprehensive approach to solving the state's transport problems.

The Australian Greens have called for a comprehensive reform of Perth's transport infrastructure to help solve security and congestion problems.

WA Senator Scott Ludlam and member for WA's East Metropolitan region Alison Xamon said the State Government's planned $2million taxi rank renovation would not solve the city's late-night transport problems on its own, and backed the recent call from WA Nightclubs' Association president Simon Barwood for more frequent night trains.

Greens Leader Bob Brown said today his aim is to give Australia progressive and prosperous governance in 2011, beginning with work towards a Gillard government carbon price to tackle global warming, stimulate the economy and generate new business opportunities.

"Amid more extreme weather events, which are occurring more frequently, the new year gives Australians a chance to think beyond ‘sides' and embrace effective, innovative and green ways of building a future for the developed economy that is most at risk from global warming," Senator Brown said.

The majority of Australians want to see public transport improved and it is time for governments to listen, say the Australian Greens.

Greens public transport spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said an extensive study by the Sydney University's Institute of Transport and Logistics found that 54 per cent of people around the nation believe investment in public transport is the highest priority for transport authorities, with only 22 per cent ranking roads as the top issue.

Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam has welcomed Premier Colin Barnett's announcement to the Chamber of Commerce yesterday that electrified light rail should be built in Perth within the next decade.

Senator Ludlam, who has been campaigning for light rail to enhance and complement Perth's existing public transport system for more than three years, hopes Mr Barnett will now put his Infrastructure Australia submission where his mouth is.

West Australian Senator Scott Ludlam has called on state and federal authorities to work together on introducing a city-wide light rail system to alleviate the pressure on Perth's roads.

The Greens Senator said yesterday morning's traffic chaos, caused by a single accident involving truck carrying a forklift, exposed the inadequacy of transport infrastructure in Perth.