Brisbane’s $20k-a-year commute the nation’s most expensive

BRISBANE households clock up a staggering cost to travel around the city each year, accounting for 16 per cent of the average wage.

BRISBANE households spend almost $20,000 a year travelling around the River City, making it the most expensive commute in the country.

New figures from the Australian Automobile Association’s show the cost to own and run a car or catch public transport in Brisbane increased by $184 a year in the June quarter.

This means 16 per cent of our average wage is eaten up by transport costs — the highest in the nation.

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Toll road operator Trans­urban announced yesterday it more than doubled its profit to a record $629 million, helped by Brisbane motorists who are shelling out more than $12 million in weekly tolls.

The Australian Automobile Association’s latest Transport Affordability Index shows the cost to own and run a car or catch public transport in Brisbane increased by $184 a year in the June quarter, the second highest increase behind Sydney.

RACQ head of public policy Rebecca Michael said Brisbane was the most expensive city for transport when average income was measured.

“Residents are spending more than 16 per cent of their incomes on getting around Brisbane,” Ms Michael said.

“Registration, licensing, taxes and tolls are hitting the hip pocket hard — and it’s unacceptable.”

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Residents in Sydney and Melbourne spend 15.37 per cent and 15.38 per cent of their wage on transports costs respectively.

Rising fuel prices accounted for an extra $5.41 being added to the weekly household budget.

The average Brisbane household spends $75.57 on fuel per week — more than both Sydney and Melbourne.

Tolls are also more expensive in Brisbane than Melbourne with motorists spending around $49 per week.

Transurban yesterday reported revenue from its Queensland toll roads, including the Clem7, Logan Motorway, Gateway and Legacy Way, increased 2.1 per cent last financial year, with motorists clocking an average 404,000 daily trips on the tolls roads during that time.

Brisbane ranks third in the country for public transport costs behind Sydney and Melbourne with locals spending $54.45 every week to commute.

“Public transport in the River City costs are less of an issue now since the introduction of the State Government’s Fairer Fares package in 2016, which made catching buses trains and ferries more affordable,” Ms Michael said.

“Brisbane locals do rely on their cars more than public transport so rises of up to 15 per cent in the last four years in registration and licensing fees, combined with an increase of stamp duty and expensive fuel puts the real pressure on household budgets.”

The results have prompted RACQ to renew calls for the State Government to freeze registrations cost.

“If the State Government was serious about driving down the cost of living it would start by freezing rego costs for three years,” Ms Michael said.

“These kinds of increases put added pressure on families, which is why we look forward to the start of the real time fuel price monitoring trial in December,” she said.

“Price monitoring alone won’t bring the cost of fuel down — but people power will.”