Brisbane sporting clubs seek transport levy relief amid 50c fares
Queensland’s professional sporting clubs are lobbying the state government to remove a $3 public transport levy while commuters benefit from the 50c fare trial.
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Queensland’s professional sporting clubs are lobbying the state government to remove a $3 public transport levy while commuters benefit from the 50c fare trial.
A letter co-signed by the Broncos, Lions, Titans, Reds, Cowboys and Gold Coast FC in June - seen by The Courier-Mail - asked Premier Steven Miles for a “price adjustment to be reflected in the transport levy that we pay during the time period of the 50-cent flat fare”.
“Our levy is considerably higher than the 50-cent flat fare that will apply from August,” it notes.
“We write to ask for this price adjustment to be reflected in the transport levy that we pay during the time period of the 50-cent flat fare.”
“We, like you, see the benefit in taking cars off the roads and note as you have previously mentioned that a bus can remove 50 cars off our roads and a train can remove 600 cars.
Queensland Cricket, on behalf of Brisbane Heat and Cricket Australia, sent its own letter arguing for the levy to be adjusted during the cheap fare period.
“As a not-for-profit organisation, any savings cricket can make in our annual costs results in a direct benefit to enable cricket to spend more in growing our community commitment and have more Queenslanders involved in sport,” chief executive officer Terry Svenson wrote.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish said free public transport for major events across Queensland would continue during the six-month 50c fare trial period.
“It is important to note that the Department of Transport and Main Roads does not charge venues for integrated ticketing (free travel) and does not charge ticket holders to travel to and from these venues, except in Townsville,” he said.
“The cost, which stadiums reflect in their ticket price, goes directly to the transport operator for the provision of any additional transport services required such as shuttle buses and additional rail services.
“These arrangements are exclusive for event transport and necessary to move large numbers of passengers during major events. Any price adjustments to these costs are therefore out of scope under these arrangements.”
In southeast Queensland, 50c fares have saved public transport users more than $29m in the first month.
Public transport patronage has also passed pre-Covid levels for the first time, with more than 15 million trips taken since 50c fares were introduced on August 5.
The number of trips on the transport network is 14.5 per cent higher than a comparative period last year.
Light rail is 18.6 per cent higher than the same period last year while ferries are 40.6 per cent higher, bus patronage is up 12.1 per cent and rail is up 16 per cent.
Weekend trips have been between 30 and 40 per cent above the pre-Covid comparative period, Mr Mellish said.
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