Transport Minister Brent Mickelburg makes big call on future of 50 cent fares

It was a core election promise for both Labor and LNP. Now, the new Transport Minister has revealed his hand on the future of Queensland’s 50 cent fares.

Brent Mickelburg has confirmed 50 cent fares are here to stay.

Queensland’s hugely popular 50 cent fares will become permanent on trains, buses and ferries, new Transport Minister Brent Mickelburg has confirmed, revealing the fares have already saved commuters $110 million.

The fares would also be available on TransLink’s urban bus networks across the state.

And Mr Mickelburg released data showing the cut-price fares have supercharged patronage on all modes of public transport since the start of a trial earlier this year, including the Gold Coast light rail.

“This is a great day for Queenslanders, with the cheapest public transport fares in the state’s modern history here to stay,” he said.

The announcement on Saturday made good on a promise made by Premier David Crisafulli in September that he would ensure the fares were permanent.

His election pledge came just days after former premier Steven Miles committed to locking in the measure, after what was supposed to be a six-month “use it or lose it’’ trial.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles at Central station on day one of the 50 cent fares trial. Picture: John Gass

It also came after revelations Mr Miles ignored the recommendations of an expert panel which warned against a one-off solution focusing on price slashing alone.

Mr Mickelburg said the move was one of the key commitments outlined in the Crisafulli Government’s 100-day plan.

He said more than $110 million had been saved by public transport users since the start of 50 cent fares, based on the same number of trips being taken under the previous fare structure.

Buses, trains, trams and ferries in SEQ have all carried more passengers since the start of 50 cent fares, with regional bus networks also seeing an increase in passenger numbers.

“Labor used 50 cent fares as an election toy while the Crisafulli Government saw the real benefit for Queenslanders,’’ he said.

Mr Miles rejected the claim, saying the policy was something he had wanted to implement for decades.

“Labor may be in Opposition but our policies are still delivering cost of living relief for Queenslanders,’’ he said.

“I first thought of cutting public transport fares when I was a university student catching the train from Petrie to Brisbane.

“David Crisafulli has never supported 50 cent fares and if my trial wasn’t so popular, Queensland commuters would be paying full price by now.

“One of David Crisafulli’s ministers is on the record calling Labor’s 50 cent fares a ‘con’.

“We will hold him to account as soon as he attempts to increase public transport fares.”

New Transport Minister Brent Mickelburg has announced 50 cent fares will become permanent.

Figures released by Mr Mickelburg’s office showed that between August 5 and the end of October bus usage jumped 14.3 per cent compared with the same period in 2023.

Train patronage was up 17.9 per cent, the Gold Coast Light Rail had seen 22.1 per cent more passengers, while numbers on ferries servicing the Brisbane River and southern Moreton Bay islands was up 43.9 per cent in the same period.

Across all transport modes there had been an increase of 16.7 per cent.

The fares had had an immediate impact, with public transport numbers up 11 per cent in the first week.

And the weekend of August 17-18 was the busiest ever for the southeast Queensland network, with more than 700,000 trips taken.