Traders group backs call for free public transport on pageant day
City traders have called on the State Government to bring back free public transport for everyone – not just children – to this Saturday’s Adelaide Christmas Pageant.
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Father Christmas gets a free ride into the Adelaide CBD – so why should pageant goers miss out, traders say.
They say this would help attract people to the event, the world’s biggest Christmas parade, and encourage visitors to stay in the CBD longer.
East End Co-ordinating Group president Julie Moralee said city traders would support any move that helped boost the local economy.
“All South Australians know the Christmas pageant is the start of the Christmas season, initiatives such as free public transport to the city make the pageant accessible and stress free for the community,” Ms Moralee said.
“It also supports people staying longer in the city and hopefully helps our traders by setting the city as the place to do your Christmas shopping.”
Rundle Mall Management Authority general manager Johanna Williams agreed: “Rundle Mall is excited to support the start of Christmas in the city this weekend for the pageant and our traders would likely welcome any initiatives that encourage visitors into the
city.”
Adelaide West End Association president Andrew Wallace said the extra foot traffic around the train station would benefit traders, particularly those between Bank St and King William St.
However, Transport Minister Stephan Knoll has ruled out free travel for adults.
Two children under 15 travel free when accompanied by a paying adult and children under 5 travel free at all times.
“DPTI is providing extra buses, trains and trams with free travel for young children as they do every year to help families get to the Christmas pageant and have a great day,” Mr Knoll said.
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The Opposition today called on the State Government to provide free transport for all to the pageant to “make life that little bit easier for hundreds of thousands of South Australians”.
It offered free public transport to the pageant once in 2017 and, since then, the Marshall Government has not offered the same service.
A pageant spokeswoman said free public transport was occasionally provided, and was often linked with the celebration of a pageant milestone.
She refused to say whether she supported free transport.