‘Fifty-cent fares forever’: Qld’s cut-price public transport extended indefinitely

The Queensland government has pledged to keep the cost of public transport down if re-elected next month by making 50¢ fares permanent, and now the LNP has vowed to do the same.

The six-month fare trial was launched on August 5, with Translink data released to Brisbane Times showing about 57,000 more train, ferry, bus and light rail trips than average were taken across the state in the first week alone.

Speaking from the Teneriffe CityCat ferry terminal on Sunday, Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish said 50¢ fares had been an “outstanding success” across Queensland.

“Not only in south-east Queensland but across the state, we’re seeing increases in patronage,” he said.

“If you support a re-elected Labor government, you will get 50¢ fares forever.”

Mellish was joined by Premier Steven Miles, Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace and Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick, each armed with a 50¢ coin to promote the extension of the cut-price fares.

“The best thing about this initiative is it saves Queenslanders more than it costs government because of all those extra people using public transport who weren’t before,” Miles said.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a teenager catching the train and the bus from Petrie to St Lucia.

“Now to see it in effect, to see it working, [and] to see people using and being excited about public transport, I’m incredibly excited about that.”

The government said that in the five weeks since the trial began, $37 million had stayed in Queenslanders’ pockets.

“We are in a position to deliver this for Queenslanders,” Dick said.

“Every time I announce something, I tell you how much it’s going to cost and how we’ll fund it.

“Because of our strong budget surpluses over the forwards [estimates], we can deliver this to Queenslanders. We’re going into deficit to help families now, and we said that in the budget.”

The government put the cost of continuing the 50¢ fares at “$300 million per year in foregone revenue”, which it said would be funded from the “operational balance of the state budget over the cycle”.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said he would also permanently extend 50¢ fares if elected in October.

“We want to give Queenslanders certainty that we’ve got a plan to make sure that we can deliver a better public transport system,” he said on Sunday morning.

“What they want to see is greater frequency and reliability and safety, particularly in the outer areas and in those regional areas.”

Miles again promised the introduction of an independent transport authority to align planning for trains, buses and ferries, and to streamline services, particularly in south-east Queensland.

“For too long, there’s been a disconnect between our bus services, primarily delivered by the Brisbane City Council, and the rest of our public transport [network],” he said.

Mellish praised council and Queensland Rail staff for their commitment to the fare initiative and ensuring patrons were assisted during the rollout.

“They’ve done an outstanding job to make this the success that it is. That means we can make it permanent,” he said.

The latest Resolve Strategic polling for Brisbane Times showed voters were most concerned about the cost of living, with 51 per cent citing it as a top priority ahead of the October 26 election.

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