Brisbane City Council to offer free public transport to seniors

Treasurer Jackie Trad has responded to Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner’s call for the Queensland Government to offer free transport for seniors, issuing a challenge of her own and reminding him there’s a lot more his Council could be doing.

TREASURER Jackie Trad has challenged Brisbane City Council to offer seniors a rebate on their rates, like the State Government currently does.

Ms Trad said the Government had allocated more than $5 billion in tomorrow’s State Budget for a variety of concessions.

It comes after Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner today called on the Government to match council’s commitment - which is that it will offer seniors free travel on Brisbane’s buses, ferries and CityCats during off-peak periods.

“Very happy to sit down with the Lord Mayor but maybe if he wants to come to the table asking the state to do something, the Brisbane City Council can give seniors a rebate on their rates rather than letting the state give that rebate for seniors from the state coffers,” Ms Trad said.

Brisbane seniors will be offered free public transport during off-peak travel periods. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Walker

“I just want to inform the seniors out there and all public transport users, we actually fund the Brisbane City Council through a transport service contract to deliver bus transport right throughout the Brisbane area and other private contractors right throughout the state.

“We provide them with cash to operate the public transport system and also to buy new infrastructure.

“I think there is a whole range of things that we can do and there’s a lot more that council can do.”

OVERNIGHT: Council’s free public transport plan

SENIORS will be given free travel on Brisbane’s buses, ferries and CityCats in a pre-election sweetener from Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the council will offer the incentive to eligible senior go card holders during off-peak travel periods.

Cr Schrinner will also today call on the Palaszczuk Government to match the council’s commitment in tomorrow’s State Budget, so seniors can travel for free on Queensland Rail services.

The measure will be unveiled in Wednesday’s Council Budget — the last before next year’s election — and cost ratepayers about $3.1 million.

The Lord Mayor said the move was about giving older residents more opportunities to travel around the city and connect with their family and friends.

“It’s also about giving something back to the generations who have worked hard and contributed so much to help build our city and our community,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Social isolation and loneliness amongst older residents is consistently a major concern raised by community researchers.

“The evidence clearly shows that older residents are more likely to live on their own.

“Making it possible for seniors to get out and about more, at no cost, has the potential to bring many positive benefits to our community.”

The free travel will kick off on October 1 and be available on buses, ferries and CityCats on weekdays between 8.30am and 3.30pm as well as between 6pm and 6am.

The incentive will also apply all weekend for bus services.

It currently costs seniors $1.32 to travel through one TransLink zone during off-peak periods, but this can become as expensive as $7.98 if they travel through eight zones.

Cr Schrinner said the council was using targeted incentives to boost patronage on the city’s public transport network.

“Free off-peak travel for seniors on Council’s public transport will go a long way to encouraging greater use of public transport and I encourage the State Government to adopt the same approach for rail commuters,” he said.

This week’s Council Budget will also include continued funding for their cabs program, which offers a shared, discounted taxi service to those residents who are over 60, mobility impaired or hold a pension concession card.

Originally published as Brisbane City Council to offer free public transport to seniors