$1.5bn earmarked for permanent 50 cent fare policy

Queensland’s 50 cent fares are set to become permanent in a massive move by the LNP aimed at decreasing traffic congestion. Is it the right move? VOTE IN OUR POLL

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg on Monday. Picture: Richard Walker

Queensland’s 50 cent fares are set to become permanent as the LNP government endorses the cost benefits and decreased traffic congestion because of cheaper public transport.

The costs are projected to cost $1.5bn across the next four years as the six-month trial becomes permanent, but Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said this would be directed towards financial relief and improved traffic flow for motorists.

Mr Mickelberg said the six-month trial had come at a cost of $181m and data within the first half of the period showed the 50 cent fares showed the cost benefits, passenger increases, and alleviated traffic congestion in the southeast.

When the scheme was first promised regional politicians including Katters Australian Party leader Robbie Katter was cynical of the scheme’s benefits to regions.

Mr Mickelberg said the government was looking at the scheme could apply to the rest of the state and claimed public transport usage increased further in regional areas than in the Brisbane Central Business District.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg. Picture: Richard Walker

He said the government wanted to ensure the scheme benefited Queensland in its entirety, and said the benefit would be through congestion.

Mr Mickelberg believed also the merits on keeping regional services on the 50 cent scheme even if a small number of people were using them, and disputed suggestions these should be axed.

“I will make the observation that sometimes that might be the only access that that individual has, and we need to look at it on a case-by-case basis,” he said.

“We need to ensure that it’s viewed through the lens of making public transport services reliable, safe and affordable, and whether that’s 10 people accessing a service or 100.”

Mr Mickelberg said regional Queensland’s public transport needed to be maintained to gain the full benefits of the scheme and said traffic congestion existed in these places as well, such as Cairns and Townsville.

“It’s a really important point to make that we want to ensure that we’re investing in bus services in the regions as well, and for far too long those areas, places like Townsville and Cairns, have been forgotten when we come to the conversation around public transport,” Mr Mickelberg said.

“In fact, much of the increase has actually been in the regions, the further away from Brisbane, typically, the patronage increase has been greater.

“The other issue that can’t be ignored is the availability of services, which is why we’re focusing on increased capacity in the regions as well.”

Biggest South East Queensland percentage increases were in Gympie, 49 per cent, Sunshine Coast, 37 per cent, Gold Coast, 21 per cent, and Logan, 20 per cent.

Across regional Queensland the biggest percentage growths – through bus networks – was Townsville, 49.29 per cent, and Mackay, 40.92 per cent.

Central Station had the highest increase of patronage with an increase of 394,000 trips.

While state government figures showed increased percentage figures across Queensland, it is yet to provide trip number increases beyond Central Station.

While visiting flood ravaged Ingham in North Queensland, Opposition Leader Steven Miles said he “should be flattered” the state government was making 50 cent fares its own policy.

Mr Miles said he had always wanted uniform cheap fares since he was a teenager catching the train from Petrie.

“I always thought it was unfair the people who travelled the furthest or the people who most wanted to use public transport ... pay the most,” Mr Miles said.

“I know there are public transport authorities in Australia and around the world who are looking to Brisbane for evidence of how you can invest in the public transport network and get people using it again.”