‘I don’t know anyone who catches Airtrain’: MP joins calls for end to monopoly

Queensland’s Labor government is coming under pressure from both the political left and right to tear up its longstanding exclusivity agreement with Airtrain to run public transport services to Brisbane Airport.

Greens MP Michael Berkman said the 35-year agreement, which was signed by the Borbidge Coalition government but came in force under the Beattie Labor government, had resulted in exorbitant fares and a disincentive for airport users to catch the train.

Greens MP Michael Berkman wants the state to buy out Airtrain’s contract.Credit: Matt Dennien/Supplied

The renewed pressure came a fortnight after Brisbane City Council public transport chairman Ryan Murphy, a member of the LNP, called for an end to Airtrain’s exclusive airport access to enable Brisbane Metro to service the precinct.

At the time, Transport Minister Mark Bailey suggested the council could foot the bill for breaking the contract with Airtrain.

Berkman told state parliament late on Tuesday night that the Airtrain deal, among others, was “wring[ing] Queenslanders dry for profit”.

“Why is the minister defending this 35-year contract for a private provider to keep a monopoly on public transport services around the airport?” he said.

“What part of ‘making Queenslanders pay a private company $20 for a 20-minute trip’ sounds like a good deal to the government?

“It is embarrassing.”

The Airtrain monopoly was a condition of a public-private partnership with the Queensland government to deliver the 8.5-kilometre elevated train line to the domestic and international terminals.

That exclusivity, written into the Brisbane Airport Rail Link deed between the government and Airtrain Citylink Limited, is due to end in 2036.

Bailey’s office was asked whether the government had held any discussions with Airtrain about a negotiated exit from that deed. The answer came from a departmental spokesman.

“The Department of Transport and Main Roads is committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Brisbane Airport Rail Link deed and related agreements with Airtrain,” a TMR spokesman said.

“The BARL Deed enables Airtrain to operate commercial rail services to and from the Brisbane Airport until 2036.”

Berkman said it was the state government’s responsibility to provide cheap – or free – public transport, something he said would revitalise the airport train service.

“I do not know anyone who catches the Airtrain. I am interested to know if anyone here does. We cannot wait until 2036 to review that monopoly Airtrain contract,” he said.

“The government should bring the airport service into public hands and make it free, or at least cheaper, for everyone to use.

“They could do it as part of the Cross River Rail project. They could have some long-term vision.

“Put an end to the secret deals with private contractors, [and] invest in long-distance connecting services and high-frequency inter-suburb buses.”

Comment was sought from Airtrain.