The Queensland Government says public transport use is up and fares will stay down permanently. Photo: Brisbane City Council.
The Queensland LNP Government is touting the success of the 50-cent public transport fares program, which it has made permanent, with combined savings for Queenslanders totalling a staggering $200 million.
Introduced by the previous Steven Miles Labor government as a pre-election six-month trial, the policy reduces the price of fares across Queensland’s trains, buses, trams and ferries to just 50 cents.
The government promised during the election to match Labor’s commitment and make the trial permanent. The LNP is now celebrating its success.
More than 96 million trips have been taken on public transport since permanent 50-cent fares were introduced, and the combined cost-of-living relief amounts to $200 million.
“Queenslanders are saving money and embracing public transport as the most affordable and accessible travel option, with support for 50-cent fares climbing to 92 per cent since we made them permanent,” Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said.
The government said Labor had no plans to make the system permanent, meaning it would have ended in February, with no funds allocated in the budget beyond the six-month trial.
Data from the Department of Transport and Main Roads indicates an 18.3 per cent rise in public transport use in the six-month trial. Buses have seen the largest jump in patronage, with 59.1 million trips, followed by trains with 26.8 million, trams with 6.6 million and ferries 3.5 million.
“From work commutes to weekend outings, the LNP’s permanent 50-cent fares are making staying connected cheap and easy – helping to relieve cost-of-living pressures for Queenslanders,” Mr Mickelberg said.
Patronage of Translink regional buses has also increased, giving regional Queenslanders more access to the rest of the state, with a 41 per cent increase in Cairns, a 91 per cent rise in Townsville and a 42 per cent spike in the Whitsundays to the end of June.
The government is also lauding the reopening of the Exhibition train station, bringing Queenslanders into the Brisbane Showgrounds, in addition to bus and train connections across the south-east of the state, providing better access for regional patrons to Brisbane’s centre of action.
Queensland Rail CEO Kat Stapleton said: “We’re all about helping people get where they need to go in a convenient and safe way.”
